Zambia face four-time champions in Olympic opener

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Jul 24, 2024. 11:00

Zambia will face perhaps the toughest possible start to an Olympic Games campaign when they face four-time champions the United States in their Group B opener, set for Stade de Nice on the evening of Thursday 25 July.

Kick-off is at 9pm CAT.

Zambia will be making their second appearance in the Women’s Football tournament at the Olympics, having debuted at Tokyo 2020. The Southern Africans were eliminated in the group stage in Japan after finishing third behind Netherlands and Brazil, but ahead of China.

The Copper Queens, who earned their place at Paris 2024 by defeating Ghana and Morocco in the qualifiers, will look to star players such as Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji for inspiration – and perhaps a little inside knowledge, as both play their club football in the USA.

Zambia warmed up for their Olympic action with a 1-1 draw against New Zealand in a friendly earlier this month, with Rhoda Chileshe putting them into the lead, before an equaliser from Katie Kitching.

As for the United States, they were Bronze Medal winners at the last Games in Tokyo and are four-time Olympic champions, having claimed Gold in 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

They boast a hugely experienced squad and have entered a new era under coach Emma Hayes, who will be determined to make a mark at these Games – her first major tournament in charge.

In head-to-head terms, this will be the first meeting of Zambia and the United States.