By ADRIAN MWANZA –
ZAMBIA will be aiming for a win over nemesis Zimbabwe when the two sides clash in the Africa Women Cup of Nations final round first leg match at Rufaro Stadium to keep alive hopes of reaching the final tournament.
This will be a repeat of the 2014 qualifying series for the Africa Women Championship before it was renamed to the Africa Women Cup of Nations that saw the Shepolopolo beat the Mighty Warriors 2-0 on aggregate to seal a historic qualification to the finals held in Namibia.
It will be a clash that will pit two sides heading into this encounter with different motives but with an overall target of clinching a place at the finals to be held in Yaoundé, Cameroon in November.
This match will see Zambia wanting to avenge the Olympics elimination suffered at the hands of their hosts, while Zimbabwe will be out to avoid a second Africa Women Cup of Nations exit against the Shepolopolo.
“We must win the game by at least 2-0 because our focus is qualifying for the African Championship. We also want to avenge the 1-0 loss we suffered in the Olympic qualifiers,” striker Noria Sosala said.
Sosala, who has been influential in the qualifying process, said playing the first leg away will require hard work to win the game so as to ease pressure in the return leg at home.
Coach Albert Kachinga has rallied his lasses to go for an away win to lessen the pressure in the reserve fixture.
He urged his side against leaning too much on past games but focus on the current assignment.
To get those goals, Kachinga will undoubtedly bank on the likes of Sosala, Hellen Mubanga, Barbra Banda, Mary Mwakapila, Mary Wilombe and Grace Zulu.
Hazel Nali is sure to start in goal and will expect maximum cover from Emeldah Musonda, Martha Tembo, Anita Mulenga and Annie Kibanji.
Meanwhile, after making history by qualifying for the Olympic Games last year, Mighty Warriors assistant coach Sithethelelwe Sibanda has urged the team to maintain the same fighting spirit when they meet Zambia.
Zimbabwe last qualified for the continental competition in 2004 and Sibanda wants a win in today’s match to keep their campaign on track with the return leg pencilled in for Sunday at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
“We are really prepared for it and want to come out with a good result at Rufaro. But I must admit it’s a very tough game.
“For Zambia to get to the last qualifying round they beat Namibia which means they are a good side,” Sibanda told the Herald Newspaper.