HAMILTON, New Zealand
\nZambia\u2019s coach is under investigation for sexual assault, its star player got banned from a key African tournament and at 77th the team is lowest ranked of any at the Women\u2019s World Cup.
\nAnd yet the Copper Queens are coming off a surprise win over Germany and know how to score. Heading into its opener Saturday against Japan, Zambia doesn\u2019t see itself as a lost cause but as a team with more than a chance.
\n\u201cAs far as I\u2019m concerned, we cannot consider ourselves as underdogs,\u201d Zambia coach Bruce Mwape said. \u201cOthers will look at us as underdogs, not ourselves.
\n\u201cWe regard ourselves as a big team that can challenge any other team in the world.\u201d
\nScoring nine goals in their last four matches, the Copper Queens have drawn attention with their performances. And just ahead of its first World Cup appearance, Zambia won its final tune-up friendly against the second-ranked team in the world, Germany.
\nThe team captain, 23-year-old Barbra Banda, sealed a 3-2 victory with a pair of goals that included a 102nd-minute winner against the two-time world champions.
\nThe journey for most Zambian players, from their start in the sport to that victory and this Women\u2019s World Cup, was long and difficult. Team photographer Chisanga Siame said many players representing Zambia grew up playing on pitches without grass and without basic equipment like cleats.
\nThe players \u201care coming from very average and poor backgrounds,\u201d Siame said. \u201cPeople that have been literally playing for free for most of their career within the local league, and here they are, living their dream at the World Cup.\u201d
\nOff the pitch, it\u2019s also been a tough road to New Zealand.
\nMwape has been at the center of an investigation for sexual misconduct in the Zambian soccer association.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
HAMILTON, New Zealand Zambia\u2019s coach is under investigation for sexual assault, its star player got banned from a key African tournament and at 77th the team is lowest ranked of any at the Women\u2019s World Cup. And yet the Copper Queens are coming off a surprise win over Germany and know how to score. Heading […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-344687","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n