Zambia will today face an uphill battle when they face Brazil in their
last group match of their 2020 Olympic games in Japan.
The Copper Queens are going in this encounter as underdogs after a
10-3 bashing at the hands of Netherlands in their opening encounter before drawing 4-4 with China in their second encounter.
Zambia will be counting on the exploits of captain Barbra Banda whose been scoring for fun after recording a double hattrick at the
tournament and making history.
The Bruce Mwape drilled team have regained their confidence after a
shaky start against the Netherlands who thumped 10-3 in their first
match but need to be extremely cautious against Brazil who beat China 5-0 and later drawing with Netherlands 3-3.
The combination of Rachel Kundananji and skipper Barbra Banda would give the coach some relief as the team hopes to shoot down their Brazilian opponents in this crucial last encounter.
However the Zambians will not have it easy as Brazil with their inform
talisman Marta Vieira da Silva is expected to give the Zambian defence a good run for their money.
The Brazilian holds the record for most goals in Brazilian International Football, male or female, with 112 goals for her country.
Marta also holds the record for most goals scored in the FIFA World
Cup tournament for both women and men.
However the stakes are high for the Zambian ladies who try to beat the
South Americans incomparable experience levels.
A loss by Zambia would see them out of the tournament. and would have
to go for an outright win if any glimmer of hope to advance to the
next stage is to be kept alive.
But Coach Bruce Mwape said that the team would fight to the end of the
tournament despite going up against heavy weights.
Mwape said he had positively charged his side and that they were not
intimidated by Brazil going in this encounter.
‘’ We are aware that we are up against a strong team and we reckon a
tough match but we are going to fight till the end,’’ he said.
Zambia lies bottom in group F with just a point at par with China
which has a better goal difference with Brazil topping the Chat.
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