Zambia women’s national team midfielder Ireen Lungu insists they can handle the pressure against hosts Ghana in this Friday’s 2024 Paris Olympics qualifier.
The 23-member Zambia team left Lusaka for Ghana via Addis Ababa yesterday afternoon ahead of their third round, first leg fixture on February 23 in Accra.
Lungu said before departure in Lusaka on Tuesday that expectations were high to make a good start in the Paris 2024 qualifiers following a second stage walkover result against Mali who withdrew from the Olympics race in October.
“The first game in Ghana is very important if we carry the three points then we are good to go. Our aim is to win our first leg game in Ghana,” said Lungu.
But Zambia takes on a Ghana side that has lost its first game in November after an 11-match unbeaten run under their Swiss-born coach Nora Hauptle.
Lungu said Zambia is aware that Ghana would want to rebound after losing 1-0 away to Namibia in their 2024 AWAFCON qualifier last November.
“Pressure is there but I think the only pressure that we have is to get the three points that’s the only pressure that we have,” she added.
Meanwhile, the 23-member team includes striker Kabange Mupopo who returns to the fold for the first time since 2015.
There are also two defensive debutants, Natasha Kapombo of Indeni Roses and Tabo Mislelo from National Assembly FC.
Zambia will host Ghana in the final leg at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on February 28.
The winner over both legs will advance to the final qualifying stage this April to play the winner between Tunisia and Morocco for a place at the Paris tournament this summer.
Zambia is pushing for a second successive Olympic qualification after making their debut in 2021 at the delayed Tokyo 2020 games.
