The Black Queens of Ghana are on a determined quest, aiming for their first Olympic Games appearance in Paris this year.
Yet, their path is obstructed by the formidable Copper Queens of Zambia, and the victor between Morocco and Tunisia in the other round three fixture of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games women’s football qualifiers.
To reach the fourth or final qualifying round, Ghana must overcome Zambia, a team that has notably surged in recent years.
Under the stewardship of new coach Nora Hauptle, the Black Queens have undergone a rejuvenation.
Their performances have been sterling, evident in their 5-0 aggregate victory over Benin in the previous round of the qualifiers, setting the stage for an enticing encounter in the third round, as they take on Zambia over two legs with the first match scheduled for Friday, February 23 and the return leg in Lusaka five days later.
Hauptle’s tenure has ushered in a new era for the Black Queens, who, after enduring several setbacks, appear to be functioning more cohesively than ever before.
This resurgence has secured their qualification for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
By blending youthful talent with seasoned experience, Ghana has showcased excellence on the pitch, suffering only one defeat in 11 games under Hauptle’s guidance, with the coach rightly receiving plaudits for the team’s resurgence.
Black Queens coach Nora Häuptle has a win rate of 91% so far.
As the team gears up for the Olympic Qualifiers against Zambia, @Bill_Eshun compares her record to other Ghanaian coaches in the last five years.#3Sports pic.twitter.com/SSM1OrpdCO
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) February 23, 2024
However, standing in their way are the Copper Queens of Zambia, a team that has experienced a remarkable ascent in recent years. Zambia’s journey to this point includes a walkover to the third round following Mali’s withdrawal.
The Copper Queens boast the world’s most expensive female footballer in Racheal Kundananji and have exhibited their prowess by convincingly defeating formidable opponents, such as Africa’s fourth-ranked team, Morocco, with an impressive eight-goal tally.
Zambia’s meteoric rise has seen them compete against football giants like Spain, Germany, and Japan.
In contrast, Ghana ranked 61st in the world, faces a daunting task against a team that participated in the Women’s World Cup.
The last encounter between the two teams saw Zambia emerge victorious, showcasing their progress since then, including appearances at the Olympics and the Women’s World Cup.
Forward Racheal Kundananji exudes confidence in Zambia’s ability to prevail, emphasising the team’s advantage and determination to secure a positive result.
“Playing away is very difficult but we have a bigger advantage so we need to use that one, winning that match even if it is not winning but coming back with points or a point is better and when we come back here we finish the job,” she said.
“We want to qualify this time because we want to go and do what we failed to do the last time so this is more important to us, not just us but to the entire nation,” she added.
Captain Barbara Banda’s return after being banned for failing gender eligibility tests adds further strength to Zambia’s lineup, with her formidable presence posing a challenge to Hauptle’s defence.
The formidable attacking prowess of Zambia, coupled with the absence of Ghana’s standout goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan, creates a formidable obstacle for the Black Queens.
While Ghana has shown defensive resilience, they will sorely miss Konlan’s contributions against Zambia’s potent attackers.
Hauptle and her team have displayed remarkable form, but facing Zambia presents a significant challenge.
The Copper Queens possess formidable attacking qualities that may prove overwhelming for Hauptle’s side.
To emerge victorious, the Black Queens will need to summon exceptional resilience and determination against their formidable opponents from Zambia.
By Frank-Kamal Acheampong|3Sports|Ghana