Zambian Army Promotes Barbra Banda, 3 Other Footballers for Securing Paris 2024 Olympics Ticket

• Barbra Banda and three of her teammates have been rewarded for qualifying for the Paris Olympics
• The Zambian ladies overturned a 2-1 first-leg loss to beat Morocco, qualifying for the summer games
• Players of the squad, who are members of the country's Army, have been promoted to a new rank

Four members of the Copper Queens who were part of the squad that secured the Paris 2024 Olympics ticket for Zambia have been promoted in the Army.

The Zambian Women produced a 2-0 second-leg win over their Moroccan counterparts to overturn their first-leg 2-1 loss.

Captain of the side, Barbra Banda, who netted a brace in the reverse fixture has been promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant by the Zambian Army.

Impressive goalkeeper Ngambo Musole was also promoted along with Racheal Nachula and Anita Mulenga, Graphic.com reports.

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The Copper Queens will be making their second consecutive Olympics appearance in Paris 2024.

Zambian football fans have taken to social media to commend the players as well. One said:

"Big Congratulations BB11 for your wonderful performance in our women's football what an inspiration you are to generation of generation."

Another added:

"Congratulations. You truly and genuinely deserve it.. l salute you madam BB 11."

A fan suggested:

"Congratulations but I feel like every army personnel in the team was supposed to be promoted cause they all fault hard and worked as a team."

One wrote:

"This is why talent will always outshine a skill. Someone who just plays football has already been to many countries.

"Getting good money more than those who spend 5 to 7 years studying."

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Sports Brief earlier reported that South Africa’s dreams of qualifying for the Olympic Games in Paris later this year have been dashed.

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Banyana Banyana were looking to progress to the Games by defeating Nigeria in Pretoria, but could not breach the Super Falcons' defence.

Having won the first leg 1-0, the Super Falcons needed to only avoid a defeat in order to book their place in Paris, and that’s exactly what they did.