Zambia have already been eliminated but are hoping to leave the 2023 Women’s World Cup with a first ever win when they take on Costa Rica in their final Group C game on Monday.
Coach Bruce Mwape is hopeful they will claim the three points against an opponent who, like the Copper Queens, have yet to secure a point, or even score a goal, at the tournament.
It is for that reason he expects the teams to have a similar mindset of battling to at least exit on a high.
“Tomorrow’s game will not be easy, for one obvious reason. We are playing a team that has not won any game in the group, just like us,” Mwape told reporters. “The other team also wants to get at least a point, but we are after the maximum points. We need to do well, we want to finish on a good note.
“If you look at their performances, you can see they have also allowed goals and not scored in any game. It will be either 50-50 or we will have an upper hand on them if we play well.
“Their statistics are showing that when it comes to defending they are not good. Maybe their tactics are not all that good, but we have prepared according to the way we have seen them play in the last two games.”
But while Costa Rica may have deficiencies, Mwape admits his own team has been well below his expectation having lost both their games 5-0 to Japan and Spain.
“When we started our preparations, we had to make sure we defend well and attack accordingly, but that has not been the case. We have to adjust, this is a learning phase and we have learnt a lot.”
Team captain Barbra Banda is hoping for her first World Cup goal and says the team is desperate to bring some joy to their supporters.
“We appreciate the support we have had, we are going into the game with a positive mindset of wanting to win and take the maximum points to reward the supporters,” she said.
She adds that whatever happens on Monday, having had a taste of the World Cup, the 23-year-old wants more.
“I have learnt a lot, looking at the games we have played against big teams, I have gained experience. A World Cup is every player’s dream, so I am happy and humbled, but this is not the end, I still want to play in more World Cups that are coming,” she said.