Zambia vs Uganda: A Match Day Guide to the Copper Queens' Ndola Rematch
Zambia vs Uganda is the fixture the whole country has been talking about since Thursday night, and the Copper Queens have one big evening in Ndola on Tuesday 13 October 2026 to keep their 2028 Los Angeles Olympic dream alive. Captain Barbra Banda is Africa's all-time top scorer in Olympic football history, with three hat-tricks across two Olympic Games per her Wikipedia record, and she leads the fightback against a Uganda side that won the first leg 2-1 in Kampala. Here is everything a fan needs: what happened, what is at stake, the stars to watch, how to host a watch party, and how to get the house and the kit ready for the big night. Football is Zambia's most popular sport, as Wikipedia's overview of football in Zambia notes, and for more on the local game, our guide to Zambian football is a good place to start. Tuesday night, wherever you watch it, is going to be one to remember.
Match day in Ndola: the Copper Queens chase a place at Los Angeles 2028.
What Happened in the First Leg Between Zambia and Uganda?
Zambia made the perfect start in Kampala on Thursday. Prisca Chilufya scored in the sixth minute after a trademark powerful run down the left from Barbra Banda, who crossed for an easy finish, as Pan Africa Football reported. Uganda did not panic. Agness Nabukenya levelled with a superb free-kick in the 34th minute, and Sylvia Kabene completed the comeback in the 58th, giving the Crested Cranes a 2-1 win according to Kick442.
Minute | What happened at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo |
6th | Prisca Chilufya finishes a Barbra Banda cross to put Zambia 1-0 up |
34th | Agness Nabukenya equalises for Uganda with a superb free-kick |
58th | Sylvia Kabene completes the comeback for Uganda in the second half |
Full time | Uganda 2-1 Zambia, and Uganda take a one-goal lead to Ndola |
Captain Barbra Banda was honest afterwards: "Not the result we wanted... we are looking forward to the next game in Zambia," she told ZamFoot, adding: "We have to go back to the drawing board and see our mistakes." Interim coach Charles Haalubono blamed the surface and a habit of sitting back after scoring, and sent one clear message for the return leg: "We have to fight back in Ndola next week," he told ZamFoot.
One goal down, ninety minutes in Ndola to fix it. That is the whole assignment now.
What Is at Stake When the Copper Queens Run Out in Ndola?
Everything, in a word. Because the first leg finished 2-1, Zambia must win by at least two goals in Ndola to reach the third round without the need for a penalty shootout, according to ZamFoot, while a one-goal win would leave the tie level and could send the night to penalties. The winner advances to the third round, where Ghana or Mauritius await. Ghana won the first leg of that tie 3-0 in Mauritius, so the Black Queens are in a strong position.
This is about more than one evening, too. Zambia have qualified for the last two Olympic Games, in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, and want a third straight appearance at Los Angeles 2028, Bola News reported on the eve of the first leg. Uganda have beaten Zambia before as well, including a 1-0 win in the 2018 COSAFA Women's Championship third-place playoff and a 5-0 friendly victory in Marrakech in 2022. Zambia sit 65th in the FIFA world ranking as of 16 June 2026, with a highest placing of 62 in 2024, per the team's Wikipedia profile, so a loud home crowd on Tuesday can make a real difference.
Tuesday result in Ndola | What it means for Zambia |
Zambia win by at least two goals | Zambia progress without the need for a penalty shootout (ZamFoot) |
Zambia win by a single goal | The tie finishes level and the night could end in a penalty shootout |
Draw or Uganda win | Uganda advance to the third round |
Zambia have been to the last two Olympic Games. The third one has to be earned on Tuesday night.
When and Where Is the Rematch, and How Do Fans Get Tickets?
The second leg is at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Tuesday evening, 13 October. Check the kick-off time before you travel: FAZ lists the match for 18h00, while CAF lists it for 18:00 GMT, and those two listings do not agree, so keep an eye on FAZ's channels for the confirmed time. The Copper Queens headed from Kampala to Ndola on Friday, landing at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport before setting up camp, ZamFoot reported. Tickets went on sale through Computicket at Shoprite outlets.
Levy Mwanawasa Stadium holds 49,800 people and opened on 2 June 2012, and it is named after Zambia's third president, according to its Wikipedia entry. Its record attendance was a full house of 49,800 for the Zambia vs Ivory Coast match in November 2024, so the old ground knows how to hold a big night. Fans travelling from Solwezi and Kalumbila have a serious road trip ahead, but the North-Western spirit travels well: Solwezi is the provincial capital and the heart of Zambia's copper industry, as the Zambia Tourism guide to Solwezi makes clear.
Match detail | The information |
Fixture | Zambia vs Uganda, 2028 Los Angeles Olympic qualifier, second leg |
Date | Tuesday 13 October 2026 |
Venue | Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, capacity 49,800 |
Kick-off | Listed as 18h00 by FAZ and 18:00 GMT by CAF: check FAZ's channels to confirm |
Tickets | On sale through Computicket at Shoprite outlets (ZamFoot) |
At stake | A place in the third round against Ghana or Mauritius |
Tuesday evening, 13 October, at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. Put it in the diary in pen.
Who Are the Players to Watch on Tuesday Night?
Start with the captain. Banda is the name Uganda will have spent the week planning for. OkayAfrica reported that she became the first women's player to score three hat-tricks at the Olympics, one more than Brazil's Cristiane, after scoring twice in the first 33 minutes and completing her hat-trick in first-half stoppage time against Australia at Paris 2024.
Barbra Banda (captain, striker): Zambia's talisman and the player Uganda fear most. Her run and cross created the sixth-minute opener in Kampala, and she is Africa's all-time top scorer in Olympic football history.
Prisca Chilufya: the finisher who needed only six minutes to score in the first leg, slotting home from Banda's cross.
Racheal Kundananji: one of the names Bola News picked out when it called Zambia a side boasting some of Africa's best female players, and a second attacking threat Uganda cannot ignore.
Agness Nabukenya (Uganda): her free-kick dragged the Crested Cranes level in Kampala, so Zambia's wall must be switched on whenever she stands over the ball.
Sylvia Kabene (Uganda): the second-half match-winner, and the reason Ndola has a deficit to overturn.
Both camps expect a fight: Banda says the young players are bringing real competition, while Uganda's assistant coach, Ahumuza Collins, says her side has the quality to match Zambia.
Watch Prisca Chilufya on Tuesday: she needed just six minutes in Kampala to show she belongs on this stage.
How Do You Host a Watch Party Fit for a Copper Queens Match?
Not everyone can get to Ndola, and that is fine, because a Zambian watch party is its own kind of stadium. Plan it like a small family wedding: food first, screens second, and enough structure that the football gets everyone's full attention. Start with the menu.
The main event: a pot of nshima and a generous relish spread, or village chicken if you are going big. Our guide to Zambian food has plenty of inspiration.
The braai corner: keep the grill going for halftime. If you have not hosted one before, these braai tips will see you right.
Snacks that survive ninety minutes: vitumbuwa, chikanda, roasted groundnuts and crisps are classics for a reason.
Drinks and the sweet finish: cold soft drinks, water, and fruit or scones for the aunties.
Next, the screen setup. One big screen beats three small ones, so make the largest television or a projector the centrepiece and arrange the seats in a loose half-circle. Test the stream before kick-off, dig out the extension lead and spare remote batteries, and keep a charged phone as a backup source.
Kids' corner: cushions, blankets and a spot away from the food table so spills stay contained.
Face paint in green, orange, black and red: the cheapest way to turn a lounge into a supporters' club. Keep the wipes nearby.
Halftime mini-game: a ball, a corridor and a five-minute dribbling contest keep small legs busy.
Bedtime plan: a quiet room with the door closed for anyone who falls asleep before the final whistle.
One last touch: invitation discipline. Tell two families rather than twenty unless you truly have the space, and agree early on who brings the ice and who is on dish duty. If that sense of occasion appeals, our post on Zambian traditional ceremonies makes good reading between matches. And if you would rather watch out in town than host at home, our roundup of things to do in Solwezi has the local spots where fans will gather.
The best watch party plate in Zambia is one you can hold in one hand and still cheer with the other.
How Do You Get the Home and Kit Match-Ready Before Tuesday?
Small jobs done on Monday make Tuesday feel like a holiday. The aim is a house that can absorb a crowd and a kit that looks sharp in the photos, without a last-minute scramble.
Tidy the lounge with the match in mind. Clear the floor of toys and trailing cables and put the good cups where you can find them at halftime.
Wash the kit now, not on Tuesday. Shirts, shorts and socks for anyone playing their own five-a-side, plus your Zambia shirt for the sofa. Grass and mud stains lift best when treated straight away, and our guide to removing stains from clothes explains how.
Shop early. Buy the drinks, snacks and charcoal on Monday or first thing Tuesday; your kwacha stretches further when you are not shopping in a panic.
Reset the guest areas. Fresh towels in the bathroom, bin bags under the sink and a clear path to the gate for anyone arriving after dark.
Plan the journey. If you are heading to the stadium or a friend's place across town, sort lift shares and parking on Monday.
Then protect Tuesday evening itself. Charge the phones, set your reminders, and decide who is on the door. A house that has already done its chores makes room for the one thing that matters when the Copper Queens line up: ninety minutes of unbroken attention.
A tidy lounge and a clean kit on Monday night are their own kind of team talk.
The Morning After: Coffee, Confessions and the Clean-Up
Zambian football mornings have their own ritual. Whether the night ended in dancing or in long sighs, the house will tell the story: cups everywhere, a kitchen that hosted a halftime feast, and a lounge that smells faintly of victory or vinegar. Most of the work takes under an hour if you move early.
Open the windows. Ten minutes of fresh morning air does more for a party house than any spray.
Soak the dishes. Fill the sink before breakfast and the serving bowls will practically wash themselves.
Deal with spills early. A quick soak loosens anything on a tablecloth, couch cover or shirt.
Bag the rubbish. One bin bag carried around the lounge catches cups, napkins and wrappers in a single lap.
Reset the car. Bottles, crumbs and garden-chair grass out, windows open, a quick wipe of the seats.
Pack up the leftovers. Nshima, relish and the braai bits make an excellent Wednesday lunch.
Then comes the fun part: the post-mortem. In Zambia, the match analysis starts at breakfast and can run to tea. Enjoy it, and tidy as you go: a house reset quickly sets the tone for the rest of the week.
Zambia vs Uganda Rematch: Quick Answers
What happened in the first leg between Zambia and Uganda?
Uganda won 2-1 at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo, in Kampala on Thursday 8 October. Prisca Chilufya put Zambia ahead in the sixth minute from a Barbra Banda assist, Agness Nabukenya equalised with a free-kick in the 34th, and Sylvia Kabene won it in the 58th, per Kick442 and Pan Africa Football.
What do Zambia need to do in Ndola?
Overturn a one-goal deficit. A win by at least two goals sends the Copper Queens into the third round without the need for a penalty shootout, while a one-goal win would leave the tie level and could take the night to penalties.
When and where is the rematch?
Tuesday evening, 13 October 2026, at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. FAZ lists kick-off as 18h00 while CAF lists 18:00 GMT, so check FAZ's channels for the confirmed time. Tickets were on sale through Computicket at Shoprite outlets.
What happens if Zambia win?
Zambia advance to the third round of the 2028 Olympic qualifiers, where they will meet either Ghana or Mauritius. Ghana lead their tie 3-0 after the first leg.
Who are the players to watch?
Captain Barbra Banda, Prisca Chilufya, who scored in the sixth minute in Kampala, and Racheal Kundananji lead the Zambian threat. For Uganda, watch Agness Nabukenya and Sylvia Kabene.
How can fans make a night of it at home?
Plan the food first, test the stream before kick-off, set up a kids' corner and invite just enough people. A pot of nshima, snacks such as vitumbuwa and chikanda, and a screen everyone can see turn any lounge into the best seat in Solwezi.
Who Handles the Home Front on Match Day?
The match is the easy part. Getting the home and the kit ready before Tuesday, and resetting after the final whistle, is where Aenon Horizons comes in, across Solwezi and Kalumbila in North-Western Province, with Lusaka coming soon:
Laundry and dry cleaning: our laundry service includes a bespoke scent bar and an express 1-4 hour turnaround, so Zambia shirts, uniforms and party tablecloths come back fresh and folded before kick-off.
Maid and cleaning services: one-time deep cleans and scheduled maintenance for homes, plus office sanitation for the week after the celebrations. See the full services page for everything on offer.
Car wash and auto care: book a car wash and auto care slot so the car that carried the snacks and the cousins looks presentable on Wednesday morning.
Every team is vetted, uniformed and trained, and every job is checked against our five-star quality-control rating system. Message us on WhatsApp at +260 978 789 767 or email info@aenonhorizons.com to book, visit us on Kansanshi Road, opposite Yadah Christian School, Solwezi 10101, or book online right here. Learn more on our about page, and for more local reading, from match day to family life, browse the Aenon Horizons blog.
You bring the drums and the nshima. Aenon Horizons gets the home and the kit ready before Tuesday and resets it all after the party.
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