Tag Archives: Zambia’s Copper Queens

Sports

Malawi’ Scorchers fixed in AFCON Qualifiers after Zambia’s Copper Queens one all draw

Maravi Post Reporter
Malawi’s Scorchers in black against Zambia’s Copper Queens

By Edwin Mbewe

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Women’s National team the Scorchers on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 were held to a one all draw at home by Copper Queens of Zambia in Total Energy Women’s AFCON Qualifiers at Bingu National Stadium.

Problems which were showcased in South Africa at COSAFA tournament of poor defending, failure in taking chances was also spotted in Malawi team.

Scorchers started on a low note as they struggled a lot at the midfield, attacking without aim and they were always second on the ball in the whole first half.

Zambia could be on the lead as early as first five minutes of the game as they were awarded a penalty after a hand ball in the penalty box by Malawian defender.

But Grace Chanda, captain of the side, missed the spot kick before she later erased her sins by scoring a beauty for the Copper Queens at 20th minute after poor communication amongst the Scorchers. First half ended with the visitors leading the host by a goal to nil.

Second half Scorchers came up with brain blowing ideas, and was improved side than the visitors no wonder Sabina Thom scored at 66th minute through a beautiful header from the ball which had originated from the free kick taken from the centre line.

After this goal,Malawi kept on pressing through Asimenye Simwaka,Madyina Ngulube,Fazila Chiyembekezo,Wezzie Mvula and Sabina Thom among others but failed to utilize their chances.

Zambia regained their first half form towards the end of the game, with Grace Chanda taking shots at Malawian goal,thanks to Ruth Mhango who made several beautiful saves.

Malawi have put themselves in tricky situation after failing using home ground advantage,in the next week’s encounter in Lusaka-Zambia at Nkoloma Stadium.

The Scorchers have to win at all cost or force a draw of more than one goal if they are to qualify to the second round of the qualifiers while Copper Queens a goalless draw will be enough.

Rachael Kundananji, third captain for Copper Queens, acknowledged the game was tough though they created more chances but failed to score more goals.

“Oky, Bola yeze yakosako,Teze tapeza ma chances yambili but takangiwa kulongo ma goals elo then ku training timalonga tizayenda kusewezera pa ma mistakes yasu tikayenda kunyumba.We had chances to win today but we have failed, we will win at home no doubt about that”, Kundananji lamented in Chinyanja.

Malawi National team coach MaCNelbert Kazuwa said,they had hope of winning this game but somehow the girls failed to play according to plan.They failed to control the play at the midfield and finishing upfront.

” We will be travelling to Zambia not as tourists but with a winning minds,we believe to win away,we will rectify the finishing problems we have noted today”, he added.

Malawi, Other Sports, Sports

Zambia’s Copper Queens aid Malawi’s She Flames into COSAFA Tourney Semi-finals

Maravi Post Reporter
Zambia’s Copper Queens Zambia in Yellow and Black Jersey

By Edwin Mbewe

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Zambia Women’s football team,Copper Queens on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 beat Uganda by a goal to nil at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium,in Port Elizabeth to book themselves a place in the semifinals.

Captain Grace Chanda scored for the Queens in the first half at 37th minute after an assist from Ochumba Oseke Lubanji who shot the ball past She-Cranes defence comprised of Nakubuuka Asia,Shadia Nankya,Viola Namuddu,and Chanda finished it into the net with ease.

Copper Queens Skipper was voted player of the match with Zambia qualifying to the semifinals from group C without losing any game.

They have collected nine points from three games scoring nine goals; thus against Uganda one nil,Three nil against Namibia and five nil against Eswatini. Their two goalkeepers Ngambo Musole and Catherine Musonda kept clean sheets in all the games.

Zambia meet Tanzania in the semis who have also collected nine points from the three games scoring eight goals. Coach for Zambia Florence Nkatya Mwila hailed her girls for a win,saying what was more important was the maximum points from the Uganda game. She acknowledged the Cranes gave them a tough game.

“We played Tanzania before,we know it is a good side, what is more important is to get prepared”, She added.

It was a beautiful game to watch as both teams displayed exciting game, with attackers from both sides knocking on others goal but the Zambian back four of Lushomo Mweemba,Elizabeth Mupeso,Ochumba Oseke Lubanjo and Margaret Belemu was tight hence Cranes failed to penetrate.

The win for Zambia has also helped the Malawi’s scorchers to qualify into the semifinals as the groups’ best runners up, they meet South Africa,a repeat fixture of the 2020 tournament which Scorchers lost by six goals to two.

In this year’s group A opening game South Africa defeated MaCNelbert Kadzuwa’s girls by two goals to one.

Malawi was in the similar scenario with that of the 2018 tournament where they were hoping Zambia to beat Botswana for them to qualify to the next stage,but the Copper Queens lost that match and the Scorchers were sent back home.