July 31, (THEWILL) – Zambia made history at the Women’s World Cup on Monday, securing a 3-1 victory against Costa Rica in their final Group C match in Hamilton.
Despite already being eliminated from the tournament after successive 5-0 defeats, the Zambian ladies showed tremendous determination. Not only did they claim their first-ever points in the World Cup, but they also achieved a significant milestone for African teams at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, marking the third win by an African team in a single edition.
The Copper Queens rode their luck at times during the match, but they took an early lead with Lushomo Mweemba’s spectacular goal, which was scored just two minutes and 11 seconds into the game, making it the fastest goal of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The Zambian skipper, Barbra Banda, finally brought her deft dribbling skills to the game and played a crucial role in the team’s dominance throughout the game. Her expertly converted penalty in the 31st minute doubled Zambia’s lead and also marked the 1,000th goal in the history of the Women’s World Cup.
Despite facing an onslaught from the Central American team in the second half, Zambia’s stout defending held firm, and they even managed to extend their lead with a goal from Rachel Kundananji during the nine minutes of added time. This historic victory has undoubtedly left the Copper Queens departing the tournament with their heads held high.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
