IT has been an exciting and memorable week for the Copper Queens after wrapping up their international training camp on a high with a victory over a highly-rated Germany to set the needed confidence tone for the Australia/New Zealand 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup that starts in six days.
Last Friday’s 3-2 win over Germany, one of the World Cup favourites and the world’s second-best ranked team was all the Copper Queens needed going into a tournament like the World Cup after disasters recorded in the previous friendly matches.
After a 3-all draw against Switzerland and losing 3-2 to the Republic of Ireland, it had looked like the match against Germany would end in a serious bashing or whitewash.
Alas, it turned out to be an exciting clash with the referee equally entertained as she added some 12 extra minutes.
But winning against Germany did send the decisive statement that Zambia means business-whether the team will win the title or not.
Mind you, Germany reached the UEFA Women’s Euro final last summer before they were narrowly beaten in extra-time by England and are still regarded as one of the best in the world.
Germany is one of just two teams, together with the United States, to have won more than one World Cup, having won back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2007 and they are still a force to be reckoned with in the women’s game.
Beating Germany should give the girls the needed motivation that they can go all the way and challenge the best that will be at the competition and should brush aside all this negativity that the Western media is throwing at them.
The team should remain focused and dedicated to performing well at the global event and should not let these detractors mess up what the team has been preparing for all these years from qualifying for Tokyo 2022 Olympic Games to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations where World Cup qualification was secured.
Only a few are excited and happy with the feat that the Copper Queens have achieved and continue to record and thus, it is my hope that the Football Association of Zambia has attached some physiologist to help players deal with such negativity.
The team needs to remain solely focused on performing well at the World Cup and should not allow these media reports to disturb them but show the world what they are made of.
As stated earlier, while setting the target of winning the title might be ambitious, the girls should simply enjoy themselves and the results will come their way without putting unnecessary pressure on them to win the tournament.
The World Cup also provides a perfect opportunity for the players to market themselves to the various clubs that will be on hand to scout for new players.
So apart from winning and putting in a good shift for Zambia, the players should use the competition to secure their futures by attracting some interest from the scouts.
All the best our Copper Queens as the FIFA Women’s World Cup starts, let us interact via email eliaschipepo@gmail.com