Bruce Mwape, the head coach of Zambia’s Copper Queens, is bracing for a challenging encounter against Ghana’s Black Queens in the third round of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers. Despite aiming for consecutive Olympic qualifications, Mwape acknowledges the formidable threat posed by the Ghanaian senior women’s national team.

The upcoming qualifiers will see the Copper Queens travel to Ghana for the first leg on Friday, February 23, with the return match in Ndola five days later. Mwape, recalling a previous encounter four years ago, acknowledges Ghana’s strength, stating, “They are actually a good side. They gave us a tough time, although we managed to beat them.”

In 2018, the Copper Queens secured a comeback victory against Ghana in a friendly match, with Rachael Kundanaji, now the world’s most expensive footballer, scoring a hat-trick. Despite the past success, Mwape is aware that teams have studied Zambia’s playing style, making it crucial to adopt a strategic approach.

Recognizing the challenges of playing away, Mwape emphasized a conscious game plan and the difficulty of facing a supportive home crowd. However, he remains optimistic, citing the team’s recent experiences in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and a third-place finish at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The winner of the Ghana-Zambia matchup will progress to face either Tunisia or Morocco in the final round of qualifiers for a coveted spot in the Paris Olympics.