Zambia players celebrates victory during the Womens Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier match between Namibia and Zambia at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on the 22 February 2022 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022. 18:04
Shepolopolo Zambia on Tuesday secured their qualification for the 2022 Women’s AFCON on away goals rule after drawing 1-1 away to Namibia at Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg.
Zambia sailed through by the same aggregate scoreline after drawing 0-0 in the first leg played at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka on February 16.
Just like in the first leg, Zambia showed very little initiative in attack and it was Namibia took the lead in the 10th minute through Emma Narris.
From then on, it was an evenly balanced contest but Zambia continued to exhibit very little creativity going forward well into hour-mark.
The best Shepolopolo could produce was through the wing play of Martha Tembo but her long balls into the box did not match the quality with which they were delivered.
Relief for Zambia came in the 70th minute when Under-20 striker Xiomara Mapepa fired in the ball from close-range.
Shepolopolo then had goalkeeper Hazel Nali to thank in the 75th minute when she denied Memory Ngonda from close-range as Zambia toiled until the final whistle to book their ticket to Morocco.
Meanwhile, Shepolopolo also made history on Tuesday when they secured back-to-back Women’s AFCON qualification for the first time-ever.
Furthermore, this is coach Bruce Mwape’s third straight tournament qualification success after the 2018 Women’s AFCON and the 2020 Olympics.
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