We have only one shot at this, says Zambia coach Bruce Mwape ahead of Sunday’s 2022 COSAFA Women’s Cup final showdown against hosts South Africa.
The two 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup finalists battle to be crowned the new regional queens after defending champions Tanzania were eliminated by Zambia 2-1 in Friday’s semifinals.
South Africa are chasing an unprecedented 8th COSAFA Women’s Cup triumph out of 10 staged since the inaugural tournament in 2002.
But for Zambia, their best placing was a runner-up finish in 2019 and has had to settle for four Bronze medals.
“On Sunday there is not going to be a second chance; it is just do-or-die. This is now title now,” Mwape said.
Zambia has been in fine form at the COSAFA Women’s Cup winning all their four games.
They have scored 13 goals and conceded just one led by their mercurial captain Barbara Banda who has scored 9 of them and is favourite for the Golden Boot.
CAN ZAMBIA BEAT SA?
“We have made it to the final and all we need now is to work hard as we have done in the last four games. If we continue in the same spirit, even Sunday’s game won’t be all that difficult,” Mwape said.
Zambia’s hot form is obviously fuelled by their milestone run at July’s 2022 Women’s AFCON in Morocco where they made it out of the group stage for the first time ever to finish third.
Zambia capped that moment by beating record 11-time African queens Nigeria 1-0 in the third place playoff. That result also capped Zambia’s debut qualification to the FIFA Women’s World Cup which they secured with a WAFCON semifinal placing.
Morocco and Nigeria are also heading to the Australia/New Zealand finals next July. Victory on September 11 will seal a successful year for the Zambia women’s team on the home front.
Zambia has gained traction with its home fans at a time when their men counterparts have faltered to qualify for the AFCON in their last three attempts.
“We still need their (fans) support they should just be patient. They also want to smile at the end of the tournament and we would like to put a smile on their faces,” Mwape concluded.
