Zambia Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda has challenged senior players to fight for their positions after Uganda’s Crested Cranes secured a 2-1 victory in their 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games qualifier.
The Orlando Pride striker believes Zambia’s younger players demonstrated greater hunger when introduced during Thursday’s first-leg encounter at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo.
Banda’s warning comes as the Copper Queens face growing pressure to overturn Uganda’s advantage in Tuesday’s return leg in Ndola.
“Honestly, there are no excuses for this game, but we saw how determined the young players were when they came on,” Banda said.
“They showed that they really wanted to play. As I said, they are bringing competition into the team, and it is now up to us senior players to fight for our positions.”
The Zambia captain believes the emerging players have demonstrated sufficient ambition to challenge the established internationals for starting positions.
“The young players are hungry for opportunities,” she added. “I think, as the coach said, he has seen what happened in the game, and it is up to him to select players who are hungry to represent the nation.”
Uganda comeback exposes Zambia’s shortcomings
Zambia entered the contest seeking a positive start to their qualification campaign for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Copper Queens made an immediate impact when Prisca Chilufya opened the scoring in the fifth minute.
Banda created the opportunity, delivering a cut-back that allowed Chilufya to finish from close range.
However, Uganda responded through Agnes Nabukenya, whose 33rd-minute free-kick restored parity before the halftime break.
Sylvia Kabene completed the Crested Cranes’ comeback in the 57th minute, heading home to secure a significant first-leg advantage.
The result handed Uganda an important victory against opponents who competed at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Haalubono demands stronger response
Zambia interim coach Charles Haalubono also questioned his team’s first-half performance, admitting the Copper Queens lacked the required hunger.
“This is not the result we wanted, but it has happened,” Haalubono said after the defeat.
“The first half, we didn’t have that hunger to keep the ball. In the second half, we played much better, were able to keep the ball and were more threatening.”
The coach echoed Banda’s concerns, insisting that determination would influence his selection decisions ahead of the return fixture.
“We are in a competition. We want to qualify for the Olympics. We will feature players that really want to play with that zeal,” he said.
“You saw how Uganda played. They were fighting for each and every ball, so we have to work for a win. It doesn’t come easily.”
Haalubono introduced Eneless Phiri, Evarine Katongo and Martha Tembo during the match as Zambia attempted to recover.
Phiri nearly equalised in the 74th minute, but her free-kick struck the woodwork as Uganda protected their advantage.
Zambia’s Olympic record faces a test
The defeat puts Zambia’s ambitions of reaching a third consecutive Olympic Games under immediate pressure.
The Copper Queens qualified for Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, establishing themselves among Africa’s prominent women’s national teams.
Banda played an influential role in those campaigns, scoring three Olympic hat-tricks across the two tournaments.
However, Zambia must now overturn a one-goal deficit against a Crested Cranes side seeking its first Olympic appearance.
The return leg takes place on Tuesday, October 13, at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm East African Time.
The aggregate winner will advance to the third qualifying round, where Ghana or Mauritius awaits.
For Banda and the Copper Queens, the immediate challenge extends beyond reversing the scoreline.
Their senior players must also demonstrate the hunger their captain believes the younger generation has already shown.