Copper Queens face Uganda in Olympic qualifier

The Copper Queens return to home soil this evening as they host Uganda's Crested Cranes in the decisive second-leg encounter of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic qualifiers at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. Zambia faces a critical test, entering the fixture trailing 2-1 on aggregate following a hard-fought first leg at Hamz Stadium in Kampala. Interim head coach Charles Haalubono and his technical bench have spent the intervening days fine-tuning the squad's tactical organization, aiming to address the defensive lapses that allowed Uganda to overturn an early Zambian lead last week. In the first leg, foreign-based forward Prisca Chilufya had given the Copper Queens a promising start with an early goal, but resilient play from the hosts saw Agness Nabukenya equalize with a brilliant free-kick before Sylvia Kabene sealed the comeback win for Uganda. Speaking ahead of today's showdown, the technical staff emphasized the need for heightened discipline, composure, and better possession retention. The team will heavily rely on the experience and firepower of their star foreign-based professionals to pierce through a stubborn Ugandan defense. Expectations are high among local fans, who are anticipated to turn out in numbers at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium to create an intimidating atmosphere for the visitors. Tickets have been made available across various pricing tiers via Computicket and Shoprite outlets to encourage maximum stadium attendance. A victory by a margin of two clear goals will secure outright qualification to the next round for Zambia, whereas a one-goal victory would level the aggregate score and force the tie into a nervy penalty shootout. A win this evening would propel the Copper Queens into the next qualifying phase where either Ghana or Mauritius awaits, keeping alive the nation's aspirations of reaching consecutive Olympic tournaments. Having previously blazed trails at the Tokyo and Paris games, the squad carries the heavy expectations of a footbal