The United States Women’s National Team is back at the Olympic Games, looking to win a fifth gold medal and first since the 2012 tournament. In an abbreviated field of 12 total entrants, Group B could be the strongest of the bunch with four participants in last summer’s World Cup. Zambia is the first step on the road to glory, but the rising African program has similar designs and the talent to make a deep run. The Stade de Nice – a 36,178-seat multi-use stadium in Nice with a reinforced natural grass surface – hosts the match. This is the first-ever meeting between the two nations.
Ranked 64th internationally by FIFA (a program best), Zambia qualified for the tournament by progressing through the closed-off top bracket of the 25-team Confederation of African Football Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Following a first-round bye and Mali’s withdrawal, the Copper Queens defeated Ghana on aggregate (1-0, 3-3) followed by securing a spot in extra time with a thrilling two-leg victory over Morocco (1-2, 2-0). A pre-tournament friendly resulted in a draw with New Zealand (1-1).
Bruce Mwape was appointed to the manager role in May of 2018. While he has led the program to previously unrealized heights, his tenure has been marked by scandal. Multiple accusations have been levied against him, including a recent claim that is said to have occurred at the World Cup. Despite a FIFA investigation and reports that the country could be “barred from football at the Olympics,” the embattled leader remains in the technical area for the competition.
| GOALKEEPERS | DEFENDERS | MIDFIELDERS | FORWARDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catherine Musonda (Hapoel Raanana Women FC-Israel), Ngambo Musole Petronella (Green Buffaloes), Eunice Sakala (INDENI Roses) | Martha Tembo, Lushomo Mweemba (both BIIK Kazygurt Shymkent-Kazakhstan), Esther Siamfuko | – | – |
Mwape named an 18-player roster for the competition, a younger group that is missing a few of the notable names such as Ireen Lungu and Hazel Nali. The domestic FAZ Women’s Super Division is home to nine of the talents, including four at dominant side Green Buffaloes Women. The remaining half of the squad is on the books at various clubs across the world, including two in the National Women’s Soccer League.
