Zambia produced a significantly improved performance to draw 1-1 with South Korea in their second outing of the FIFA Women’s Series 2026 on 18 April, just days after suffering a heavy defeat to Brazil women’s national football team.
The “Copper Queens”, representing Zambia women’s national football team, showed resilience and determination throughout the contest, taking control for large parts of the match and demonstrating a clear response to their earlier 6-1 loss.
Captain Barbra Banda opened the scoring in the 25th minute, calmly converting a penalty to give her side the lead. Banda, who had also scored against Brazil, continued her strong individual form with a composed finish from the spot.
Zambia’s early dominance reflected a more organised and confident approach, with the team pressing forward and dictating the tempo. Their performance marked a sharp contrast to their previous outing, suggesting a renewed focus as they seek to build momentum.
However, South Korea women’s national football team responded with sustained pressure, particularly towards the end of the first half. Their persistence paid off in stoppage time, when Casey Phair found the equaliser in the 45th minute plus added time, ensuring the sides went into the break level.
Despite further efforts from both teams in the second half, neither was able to find a decisive goal, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
The result concludes Zambia’s participation in the FIFA Women’s Series tournament, offering encouragement after their difficult start. The friendly fixtures are being used as preparation opportunities, allowing teams to test strategies and refine performances ahead of major competitions.
For Zambia, the matches form part of their build-up to the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026, where they aim to mount a strong campaign. The improvement shown against South Korea is likely to boost confidence within the squad as they continue their preparations.
While the draw denied Zambia a victory, the performance itself may prove more significant. After the heavy loss to Brazil, the Copper Queens demonstrated fighting spirit and tactical discipline, suggesting they are capable of competing at a higher level.
The team will now turn its attention to future fixtures, with the lessons learned from these international friendlies expected to play a key role in shaping their approach ahead of continental competition.
