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Zambia and Morocco qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after edging their quarter-finals match-ups against Senegal and Botswana in Morocco respectively.
As stated earlier, all the semifinalists will automatically get a place at the 32-team tournament in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
This is the first time that Zambia is going to take part in the World Cup months after representing Africa in the Tokyo Olympics.
In a game that ended 1-1, Goalkeeper Hazel Nali of Zambia stepped up and was a hero in the penalty shootout in Casablanca as she kept out Ndiaye Diakhate’s spot-kick first.
Zambia have achieved this World Cup spot in the absence of their star striker Barbra Banda, who is missing the tournament over gender eligibility issues however, The Copper Queens have had a couple of players rise up to the Occasion like Captain Grace Chanda being the most notable one.
Into the game, both sides were playing at this stage for the first time, with Senegal taking the lead at the hour mark when Ndiaye ran to head home Mbayang Sow’s free-kick.
With 20 minutes left on the clock, Zambia were given a gift when goalkeeper Sene dropped Lushomo Mweemba’s long-range free-kick to present Avell Chitundu with an open goal.
There on Senegal looked to be in a panic mode minutes later, as a headed own goal looped past Sene and later on luckily chopped off.
In the Extra-time, The Teranga Lioness through Mama Diop had a chance that went begging just like Zambia’s Ochumba Lubandji who struck the ball to perfection not ignoring Mweemba’s great header that hit the woodwork.
Into the shootout drama, Senegal missed their first kick as Korka Fall put the ball wide of the post before Sene denying Mweemba only for Hazel to come out as the hero.
Senegal will have a final chance to join them there in a repechage tie at the weekend.
On Monday, Zambia will take on either South Africa or Tunisia in the semi-final match up.
In the other game, Hosts Morocco beat Botswana 2-1 in Rabat with defender Yasmin Mrabet heading home a 59th-minute winner after the two teams had locked horn in the opening half.
The two first half goals were both from set-piece action something that was expected from this Morocco side who have a specialist in their Captain Chebbak in that area.
The first goal fell to Morocco and was scored by Sanaa Massoudy after a Chebbak free kick and then the Botswana equaliser came in minutes later through a Keitumetse Dithebe’s free-kick.
The other two places will be decided on Thursday when Nigeria, who have been to all eight previous Women’s World Cups, take on Cameroon in Casablanca, followed by South Africa against Tunisia in Rabat.
