Black Queens Olympics Hopes Dashed

The hope of qualifying for the World Olympic Games for the first time in 20 years proved unsuccessful when Barbara Banda’s injury time goal denied the Black Queens the chance to qualify this year.

The Copper Queens of Zambia proceeded to the next round of the qualifiers on Wednesday on a 4-3 aggregate score after drawing Ghana in the second leg of the third round of the qualifiers.

They had earlier secured a 1-0 victory against the West African nation.

The Zambians took an early lead in the 11th minute kind courtesy of Captain Barbara but was cancelled in the 21st minute by forward Gifty Assifuah.

21-year-old Hasaacas Ladies player Doris Boaduwaa put Coach Hauptle’s side in the lead after recess but Zambian sprinter Kabange Mupopo restored parity for the South African country in six minutes.

The Zambians were down by a goal four minutes later thanks to Azumah Bugri but a late and second goal of the day by Barbara ended the game 3-3 with a 4-3 aggregate in favour of Zambia.

Black Queens ahead Coach Nora Hauptle praised her side for the performance put up against the experienced side despite the defeat.

“My team was brave. My team was playing football, My team was fighting and I can’t blame them at all. Sometimes it’s hard…The way they scored a free kick and the red card in the last minute, can happen of course… It was an open game. We had two or three chances in the opening and it was blocked. It’s football, sometimes it goes our side,” she told the press.

She called the failure to qualify for the Olympics disappointment and congratulated Zambia for making it to the last round.

“Kudos to Zambia.”