Zambia women’s national team manager Bruce Mwape believes his team will adjust after they suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat in the hands on Japan in their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Group C opener in Hamilton on Saturday.
The Copper Queens were making their debut in the tournament but had one to forget as Hinata Miyazawa (brace), Mina Tanaka, Jun Endo and Riko Ueki (penalty) all found the back of the net for 2011 world champions. Zambia also ended the game with 10 women after Catherine Musonda received a second yellow card in added time.
Mwape acknowledged things did not go according plan for his team but hailed the Japanese for their tactical brilliance.
“The results did not go the way we wanted it to be,” he said.
“The first half, I think, OK, we tried to contain the Japanese, but towards the end of the first half, they managed to score one goal. But our main target was at least for the results to be a draw or a win in our favour, but it never worked out the way we planned.
“What I can say about the Japanese, I think it’s a well-disciplined team. Tactically, when they are in possession of the ball, they have all the confidence. They actually made a few mistakes as compared to us. Our team made a lot of mistakes that made us concede all those five goals.
“But otherwise, it’s not the end of the world. We still have a chance. We can go back and plan for the remaining two games. I’m sure we can still come back and fight for a position to qualify for the next round.”
A big thank you to the fans that never dropped their voices throughout the 90 minutes at Waikato stadium in Hamilton. We felt your love and will come back stronger. #WeAreCopperQueens #FIFAWWC /FIFA pic.twitter.com/yQP4ysnbP4
— FAZ (@FAZFootball) July 22, 2023
Mwape cited inexperience for Zambia’s poor display against the Japanese. He is however buoyed by the fact his team got credible results again the likes of Germany and Switzerland in the build up to the World Cup.
He stressed on the need to look back at the mistakes and negatives from the Japan game and apply the correction in their next matches.
“We can say, OK, maybe it’s the inexperience which has cost the team that result. But when we look back from where we are coming from, we have played also better teams, almost over the Japanese level,” Mwape continued.
“So losing, I think, and looking at excuses, that is out. We have not just played well, but I’m sure going forward we’ll try and do well.
“On that [Japan] game, I think we’ll first look at the mistakes that we made, or rather the negatives that were in the game that we played. Then also look at the positives.
“But mostly it’s to work on the negatives. I’m sure if we correct those mistakes or the negatives, I think it will help us going into the next game.”
Zambia face another tough test when they take on high-flying Spain in Auckland on Wednesday before wrapping the group stage against Costa Rica on July 31 in Hamilton.
