Zambia Triumphs Against Costa Rica in Women’s World Cup Match.

The Copper Queens secured their first World Cup victory against the Costa Rican women’s team on Monday, wining 3-1.

in the initial three minutes of the game, Lushomo Mweemba scored Zambia’s first ever World Cup goal. Soon after, team captain Barbra Banda scored a penalty shot midway through the first half. 

After half-time, Costa Rica's Melissa Herrera retaliated with a shot fired into the corner of the goal, yet, Racheal Kundananji solidified the Zambian victory, netting a third goal in the game’s injury time.

This win places Zambia third in the Group C category, and Costa Rica as fourth, unfortunately, both teams have been eliminated from further competition.

The Copper Queens’ participation in the tournament marked a first for global football, with the Zambian women’s team being the only land-locked African country to ever qualify for a World Cup.

Nonetheless, the team has been met with challenges throughout the competition; before the tournament started their goalkeeper, Hazel Nali, was forced to drop out due to an ACL injury.  Furthermore, Zambia lost 5-0 to both Japan and Spain in their first two matches.

As the lowest ranked team in the tournament this win demonstrates how the Zambian players continue to exceed expectations and ensures that the team can return home on a high.

Zambia entered the game strong, with defender Mweemba lobbing the ball over the Costa Rican keeper after receiving from Avell Chitundu's corner only two minutes and 11 seconds into the game.

Just before half-time, skipper Banda was awarded a penalty when her shirt was pulled by Katherine Alvarado in the penalty area. Taking a shot from the spot, Banda scored the team’s second goal, making World Cup history as the scorer of the 1000th goal ever at the women’s World Cup.

And finally, with the help of Banda's disguised pass, Zambian substitute Kundananji sealed the famous win in the game’s injury time.

President Hakainde Hichilema congratulated the team on Facebook, telling the players that “As debutants, you have proved that you deserved a place at the world's largest football stage” and that he felt that “it was a joy watching” them play.