By MICHAEL MIYOBA
ZAMBIA Under 20 national women’s team coach Charles Haalubono has attributed the failure to qualify to the next qualifying round of the 2024 Under-20 World Cup to missed chances created in the game against Congo DR.
The Under-20 team was eliminated from the race to qualify for the U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup after failing to beat Congo DR who progressed to the third qualifying round after a 2-2 aggregate stalemate.
Congo DR who held Zambia to a goalless draw in Saturday’s second round second leg fixture progressed to the next qualifying round on the away-goal rule thanks to the two goals scored in the first leg played a week ago at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
Haalubono expressed disappointment but noted that the team had learnt a lot from the failure to progress to the next knock out stage.
He noted the need for the young Copper Queens to improve on their scoring abilities.
“We missed a lot of chances like what happened in Zambia we had a lot of chances and we wasted them,” Haalubono said.
“Dr Congo, I think they are good, they were able to take their chances which they had and that has made a difference and let me take this opportunity to congratulate them for progressing to the next round.
“We have learnt a lot of lessons. We have to work on our players to be mentally strong whatever opportunity you have you use it to the maximum.
Meanwhile, Under-20 striker Mary Mbewe said it was unfortunate that the team failed to qualify.
Mbewe, who was making her debut at under-20 level said the World Cup qualifiers presented her some lessons which she would use to develop her football career.
And midfielder Lubasi Pumulo has apologised for the team’s failure to beat Congo DR in the two-legged fixtures.
Pumulu said being eliminated by Congo DR was painful for the Young Copper Queens after they dominated the two games played in Lusaka and Congo DR respectively.
She noted that failure to win the home fixture which ended 2-2 cost Zambia a spot in the next qualifying round for the 2024 World Cup which will be hosted in Columbia.
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