ZAMBIA have stunned powerhouse Germany in an international friendly. The match, which was being used as preparation for the upcoming World Cup, saw striker Barbara Banda steal the show with a brilliant brace to secure a 3-2 win for the Copper Queens.
Zambia initially took the lead in the 48th minute when Banda netted her first goal of the night. The momentum continued to be on Zambia’s side as Rachael Kundananji doubled their lead just six minutes later, sending shockwaves across the stadium.
However, Germany, known for its fighting spirit and resilience, wasn’t ready to accept defeat without a fierce fight. They clawed their way back into the game with a goal in the 90th minute.
Lee Schuller fired a bullet header into the back of the net, followed by a dramatic equalizer in stoppage time by the versatile Alexander Popp in similar fashion.
Just when it seemed like the match was headed for a draw, Banda made her presence felt again. Seizing a loose ball, she exhibited remarkable composure to send a sublime lob from outside the box over the advancing German goalkeeper.
Banda’s moment of brilliance in the dying minutes of the game sealed the victory for Zambia, sparking wild celebrations among the team and supporters.
This upset by Zambia has certainly set the stage for an exciting and unpredictable tournament.
The victory over Germany, one of the strongest teams in the world, underscores Zambia’s growing prominence and improvement the team has undergone lately.
Zambia’s opening World Cup match will be on June 22 against Japan.
