By Kalumiana Kalumiana
Zambia women’s national team defender Rachael Nachula is certain they will overturn their first leg loss to Uganda in tomorrow’s 2028 Olympic qualifier at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola to stay in the race for the Los Angeles Games.
Uganda dominated Zambia in the first leg played last Thursday, October 8, in Kampala, to win 2-1 at home to dent their guests’ hopes of a third successive Olympic qualification.
Nachula said in an interview on Sunday in Ndola that the three days of training since arriving from Uganda on Saturday will translate into a favourable result on October 13 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
“We are nearly on the right track. We didn’t play according to the way we planned, but here in Ndola we are going to work on our mistakes, and we can assure the nation that we will turn the tables, and we are going to overcome Uganda on Tuesday,” Nachula said.
“My message to the fans is you are our people, we are your people, don’t get tired of supporting us.”
The first leg match saw Uganda come from one-down after Zambia had taken a 6th-minute lead through Prisca Chilufya who tapped the ball in on the far post from a cross by a heavily marked Barbra Banda.
However, Uganda were in control of the match despite the early setback and equalised in the 34th minute through an Agnes Nabukenya free kick.
Sylvia Kabene tapped in the winner from close-range in the 58th minute.
Going by the first leg performance, Zambia coach Charles Haalubono is likely to make some radical adjustments and start the players who came on midway through the game to make an immediate impact.
At left back, Martha Tembo, who was out of favour under Haalubono’s predecessor Nora Hauptle, is most likely to start in place of Nachula, whom she effectively replaced in the 43rd minute.
Striker Eneless Phiri, who made an immediate impact after coming on at the start of the second half to replace Rachael Kundananji, is another player who lit up the game despite her 62nd and 75th minutes attempts saved or coming off the beam, respectively.
Haalubono is going to have to make some tough decisions on which one of the team’s legacy strikers will make way for the highly talented Zesco Ndola Girls attacker.
In midfield too, which has not functioned effectively over the last two years, Haalubono may see gamble on second-half substitutes Everine Katongo and Natasha Nanyangwe.
The winner over both legs will face the winner of the Ghana versus Mauritius match in the third round to be played in February.
Ghana are favourites to progress after a 3-0 away win over Mauritius last Thursday, and they host the latter tomorrow in Accra.
