Tag: Zambia

USWNT learns Zambia will be final Olympic group stage opponent

It will be the first ever meeting between the two sides

The final piece of the Olympic group stage puzzle is now complete for the U.S. women’s national team, which learned late Tuesday that it will face Zambia in France this summer.

The USWNT was matched up with Germany and Australia in Group B in last month’s Olympic draw, and was set to be joined by a playoff winner from Africa.

That team has now been confirmed as Zambia, which defeated Morocco 2-0 in a qualifying playoff on Tuesday to advance via a 3-2 aggregate scoreline. Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda scored both goals on the evening.

The Copper Queens took part in their first major international tournament at the 2020 Olympics in Japan, and then played in their first World Cup last summer. They were eliminated at the group stage in both events.

Zambia will present a potent attacking threat with Banda and Racheal Kundananji, whom Bay FC signed for a world-record transfer fee prior to the 2024 NWSL season.

The USWNT and Zambia will open their Olympic campaigns against one another on July 25 at the Allianz Riviera in Nice. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

The U.S. will then take on Germany at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille on July 28, before facing Australia three days later at the same venue.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Nigeria also secured its spot in the 12-team field for the Olympics, drawing South Africa 0-0 to earn a 1-0 aggregate victory. The Super Falcons will go into a tough Group C alongside Spain, Japan and Brazil.

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Elephant attacks safari vehicle, killing American tourist; video

Footage shows the elephant pursuing and flipping the vehicle, which had stopped in dense terrain at a national park in Zambia.

Footage has surfaced showing the harrowing moments last Saturday as a massive bull elephant chased and flipped a safari vehicle in Zambia, causing the death of a U.S. tourist.

The accompanying footage, shared by Andrew Cash, shows the elephant closing on the vehicle, which had run out of road moments before the attack. As tourists express alarm, a guide repeatedly yells “Hey!” in an attempt to ward off the elephant.

Details are slow to emerge, but Wilderness Destinations issued a statement in the aftermath of the incident in Kafue National Park. It reads, in part:

“Wilderness can confirm that an 80-year-old female American guest was tragically killed by a bull elephant while on a game drive at its Kafue National Park destination in Zambia on Saturday.

“Another female guest was also injured in this incident, when an aggressive bull elephant charged the vehicle carrying six guests and a guide who were on a game drive from Lufupa Camp. The injured guest was taken to a private medical facility in South Africa while the other four guests received treatment for minor injuries.”

Elephant attacks are rare, but the docile-looking animals are unpredictable and should always be treated with respect.

Wilderness Destinations expressed “deepest condolences to the family of the guest who died” and addressed remarks on social media regarding why the vehicle had stopped:

“Our guides are all extremely well trained and experienced, but sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough.”

A helicopter was involved in the rescue of the injured tourists. Several agencies are involved in the investigation.

–Elephant image is generic

FIFA to investigate Zambia coach Mwape over sexual misconduct claims

Mwape is accused of inappropriately touching one of his players during the World Cup

FIFA has confirmed it received a complaint over Zambia women’s national team head coach Bruce Mwape, who has been accused of inappropriately touching one of his players at the World Cup.

The Guardian reported that several Zambia players saw Mwape rubbing his hands over the chest of a player at training last Friday.

In a statement to multiple media outlets, FIFA confirmed it will investigate the claims.

“We can confirm that a complaint has been received in relation to the Zambian women’s national team and this is currently being investigated,” FIFA said. “We cannot provide further details regarding an ongoing investigation for obvious confidentiality reasons.”

In response, Zambia’s FA released a defiant statement, claiming no players had raised any issues over Mwape’s behavior and that the coach would be exonerated by video evidence.

“We wish to state the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has not received any such complaint from any of the players or officials in the delegation that travelled to the World Cup. It has therefore come as a surprise for us to hear of such alleged misconduct by the coach as reported in the said online publication (The Guardian),” said FAZ general secretary Reuben Kamanga.

“As a matter of fact, all the training sessions for the Copper Queens were filmed by the FAZ media team and offers no such footage as envisioned by The Guardian. Additionally, a FIFA film crew attached to the Zambian team at the World Cup was present at all training sessions.”

In its first ever World Cup, Zambia was eliminated after the group stage, which saw the team lose to Spain and Japan before notching its first ever World Cup win in its finale against Costa Rica.

Mwape entered the World Cup already carrying allegations of sexual misconduct, which The Guardian reported on last month.

“If he [Mwape] wants to sleep with someone, you have to say yes,” one player who did not want to be named told The Guardian. “It’s normal that the coach sleeps with the players in our team.”

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2023 Women’s World Cup Day 12 Recap: Australia sends Canada packing

The Matildas got the performance they needed to reach the knockout stage at Canada’s expense

Day 12 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup came with plenty of drama as the knockout stages are starting to fill up. There were four games on Day 12: Costa Rica played Zambia, Japan took on Spain, the Republic of Ireland battled it out against Nigeria, and Canada faced off against Australia.

But before we dive into the action, here’s your daily reminder that you can follow the entirety of the World Cup right here on Pro Soccer Wire! Make sure to check out the full TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and the rankings in this year’s race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s get into the games.

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 7 Recap: Spain, Japan advance easily

We already know who is advancing out of Group C, with only first place left to play for

There were three games of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup action on Day 7 of the event, and we are officially one week into the tournament. Japan took on Costa Rica, Spain faced off against Zambia, and in the final game of Day 7, Canada went up against the Republic of Ireland.

As you look to keep up with all the action of the tournament, remember that you can get all of the information you need right here at Pro Soccer Wire! We have the TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and an updated inventory of the race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s get into the action of Day 7.

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 3 Recap: USA, Japan pick up big wins

Japan made a statement, while the USWNT started with a solid win

The biggest day of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup thus far, Day 3 saw four games played, and there were some big names out and about, too. The United States took on Vietnam, Japan played Zambia, England faced off against Haiti, and Denmark battled it out with China PR.

But before we check out the action from Day 3, here’s your daily reminder that you can follow the entire World Cup right here at Pro Soccer Wire! We’ve got it all: the TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and the race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s see what happened on Day 3.

‘Cheeky’ Jack Russell Terrier to elephant: Back off big boy (video)

Jack Russell Terriers are said to be tough, tenacious and fearless, and one name Pepper proved it when confronted by an elephant.

Jack Russell Terriers are said to be tough, tenacious and fearless, and one named Pepper proved it when it confronted an elephant approaching a swimming pool in its owner’s backyard in Mfuwe, Zambia.

Pepper, described by its owner Nathalie as “cheeky,” barked its protest to the elephant, ran outside, barked some more and charged the elephant, causing the young elephant to back off and trumpet.

Nathalie posted footage of the encounter on Instagram.

Obviously to the elephant, the 4-year-old Pepper was a Jack Russell Terror.

Also on FTW Outdoors: Stoic TV reporter reaches breaking point with nosy elephant (video)

Nathalie told Storyful that elephants frequently visit her area in the dry season, and that this one elephant “decided to check the pool as a digestive, it seems.”

“Not great for the animal, and Pepper thought the same,” Nathalie added.

Incidentally, the elephants have a better place for drinking and taking a bath. There’s a lagoon just beyond the backyard.

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