The Copper Queens asked for one more chance and took it. A 4–1 win over Uganda at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Tuesday 13 October overturned the 2–1 deficit from the first leg in Kampala and sent Zambia through to the third round of qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games, 5–3 on aggregate, Lusaka Times and ZamFoot reported.
The start was everything. Natasha Nanyangwe headed in from a corner in the eighth minute to level the tie on aggregate. Uganda hit back almost at once — Sylvia Kabene equalised on the night in the 14th minute, and for a few minutes the Crested Cranes were ahead again overall. Then Eneless Phiri met a Prisca Chilufya cross in the 20th minute, and Zambia led on the night and were level in the tie.
Banda settles it
Barbra Banda, whose finishing has carried this team through two Olympic campaigns, made the difference after the break. She scored in the 50th minute to put Zambia ahead on aggregate for the first time, and added a second late in the match — set up by Rachael Kundananji, according to ZamFoot — to make the result safe. The two reports differ on the exact minute of the fourth goal, so Lusaka Brief gives none.
We told Uganda that we will beat them at our home ground.
— Rachael Kundananji, Copper Queens forward, after the match in Ndola on Tuesday 13 October, as quoted by Lusaka Times
What comes next
The reward is a third-round tie against Ghana, who beat Mauritius 7–0 in their second leg to go through 10–0 on aggregate, in February 2027. Zambia played at the last two Olympic tournaments; a third in a row now depends on the Ghana tie and whatever follows it. On the evidence of Tuesday night the squad has depth as well as a star: the goals came from three different players, and Banda’s brace came when it was needed most.
Sources: Lusaka Times, “Copper Queens thump Uganda to advance in Olympic race” (13 Oct 2026); ZamFoot, “Copper Queens demolish Uganda in Olympic Qualifier” (13 Oct 2026).