By GODFREY DUBE at Nkoloma Stadium –
Zambia 2 Zimbabwe 3 (2-4 aggregate)
SHEPOLOPOLO coach Albert Kachinga expressed disappointment over Zambia’s failure to qualify for the Africa Women Cup of Nations finals after losing the final round to rivals Zimbabwe.
Zambia, who needed to win the match by two unanswered goals, ended up conceding three goals to tumble to the same Mighty Warriors side that denied them a place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
“I am disappointed that we have failed to qualify to the championship, we have to go back to the basics and start afresh to prepare for the next tournament,” said a dejected Kachinga.
Kudakwashe Basopo, scorer of the only goal in the first leg, stunned the average crowd that thronged Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka when she gave Zimbabwe the lead in the fifth minute after finishing off a rebound that came off a Samkelisiwe Zulu initial strike that hit the post.
Zambia started piling pressure in search of goals to keep the qualification with Grace Chanda failing to connect a Misozi Zulu cross in the 19th minute inside the box before Noria Sosala showed her how it is done after lashing a cracker to level matters.
Sosala connected a Barbra Banda pass inside the box and made no mistake to beat Zimbabwe goalkeeper Precious Dzingirai.
But that goal saw Zambia go to sleep allowing Zimbabwe to regain the lead in the 34th minute through Samkelisiwe, who pounced on a Martha Tembo poor clearance.
The second half started on a fast note with Zambia in a hurry to score three goals to take them through to Cameroon and were duly rewarded in the 61st minute with a penalty after Zimbabwe defender Lynett Mutokuo handled inside the box.
Referee Nasikko Ssemambo pointed to the spot and Zulu confidently stepped forward and converted to tie the score at 2-all but with Zimbabwe still enjoying the 3-2 lead on aggregate.
Sosala’s powerful free-kick forced a save out of Dzingirai who tipped the ball behind the net for a corner as Zambia piled pressure needing two more goals to secure qualification.
But it was the visitors who scored to shut Zambia’s hopes of any comeback in the 89th minute through Emmaculate Msipa who finished a goal mouth melee as the home side defenders struggled to clear their lines.
Zimbabwe coach Shadreck Mlauzi expressed happiness with the qualification having sailed through to both the Olympic Games and Africa Cup.
“I am very happy with the result especially that we have made it for the Olympics and now for the Africa Cup. It was a 50-50 affair but what matters is that we have won and qualified for the competition,” he said.
The match was watched by Sports Minister Vincent Mwale, Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila, former Sports deputy minister Stephen Masumba, Football Association of Zambia  (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga and some FAZ executive committee members.