Two teams, two airports, one week: the Copper Queens fly at Uganda's Olympic gate while the futsal men measure themselves against Egypt

Zambia's national teams spent the weekend in departure lounges. The Copper Queens have flown to Kampala for the first leg of their Los Angeles 2028 Olympic qualifier against Uganda on Thursday — 16:00 at Nakivubo Stadium — with the return at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on 13 October. The winner of the tie advances to a third-round meeting with Ghana, Mauritania or Djibouti; the longer road, through fourth and fifth rounds next year, ends at a third consecutive Olympic tournament, after Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. FAZ has bolstered an all-local interim technical bench for the tie and called on supporters to rally behind it — a vote of confidence in domestic coaching after years of imported hands.

The futsal men, meanwhile, are in Cairo, where they played the first of two international friendlies against Egypt last night, with the second on Tuesday. Head coach Andrea Cristoforetti said before departure that the squad is physically fit, carrying no injuries, and aware of the test an experienced North African side poses — precisely the test Zambia need eight days before the Futsal AFCON in Morocco, where they are drawn in Group A with the hosts and three-times defending champions, Algeria and Libya. Zambia open against Algeria on 16 October in Rabat. Qualifying at all — via that extraordinary 6-6 draw in Ghana and a controlled 2-0 win at home — already makes this a second consecutive finals appearance and confirms the country among Africa's eight best futsal sides.

There is a quiet symmetry in the week: two teams, both rebuilt around local expertise, both playing the continent's north as preparation for something bigger. The Copper Queens' tie is the sharper edge — an Olympic gate that opens only for winners. Cairo is a measuring stick; Kampala is a door.

Sources: Lusaka Times, "Copper Queens jet out for Uganda showdown" (4 Oct 2026); ZamFoot, "FAZ bolsters Copper Queens technical bench ahead of Uganda Olympic qualifiers" (27 Sep 2026); Bola News on the LA 2028 qualifying draw (Apr 2026); Lusaka Times, "Zambia futsal team heads to Egypt for pre-AFCON camp" (2 Oct 2026); FAZ on the Cairo friendlies (4 Oct 2026); CAF Futsal AFCON Morocco 2026 draw (Aug 2026).