Copper Queens seek redemption against Uganda

The Copper Queens return to home soil this week carrying the hopes of a nation as they face Uganda's Crested Cranes in the decisive second-leg encounter of their second-round 2028 Olympic qualifier at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. Interim coach Charles Haalubono's squad faces a stern test following a narrow 2-1 defeat in the first leg held at Hamz Stadium in Kampala. Despite drawing first blood through Prisca Chilufya, Zambia conceded goals to Agness Nabukenya and Sylvia Kabene, leaving the team with a mountain to climb on home turf. Heading into Tuesday night's fixture, the technical bench has focused intensely on tactical discipline, defensive organization, and clinical finishing. The Copper Queens are acutely aware that nothing short of a victory by at least two clear goals will secure outright qualification to the next round, while a one-goal margin would force the high-stakes contest into a tense penalty shootout. The squad has emphasized the need to eliminate defensive lapses that plagued them in Kampala, urging a disciplined performance from both the experienced foreign-based stalwarts and the locally based contingent. For Zambia, a program accustomed to blazing trails on the continental and global stage—including historic appearances at the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games—this qualification campaign carries immense psychological weight. Recent disappointment during the Women's Africa Cup of Nations cycle has heightened the urgency for redemption. The Copper Queens are determined to prove that their status as one of Africa's premier women's football powerhouses remains intact, viewing Los Angeles 2028 as the ultimate platform to restore national pride and showcase their true potential. Anticipation across the Copperbelt has reached fever pitch, with football fans in Ndola and beyond urged to turn out in numbers to provide the twelfth-man advantage. The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and team leaders, including captain Barbra Banda, have called f