Africa’s Women sole representative at the football event of the Tokoyo 2020 Olympics Zambia, suffered a hefty 10-3 defeat to Netherlands in their opening match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Wednesday at the Miyagi Stadium, Rifu Japan, Owosports.com.ng reports.
Vivianne Miedema scored four goals as Netherlands routed the Copper Queens 10-3 to open the Olympic women’s football tournament with Barbra Banda netting all three for the African side.
Miedema, the all-time leading scorer in the Women’s Super League, as well as the top career scorer for the Netherlands, scored in the ninth, 15th, 29th and 59th minutes.
Lieke Martens added two goals for the fourth-ranked Netherlands, who advanced to the World Cup final two years ago in France but fell to the United States.
Shanice van de Sanden, Jill Roord, Lineth Beerensteyn and Victoria Pelova netted the others for the Dutch. Zambia are the lowest ranked team in the tournament at No. 104.
The Tokyo Games are the Netherlands’ first Olympics and on the eve of the tournament, they received a rousing team talk from former men’s team manager Louis van Gaal.
This is also Zambia’s first appearance in the Olympics, they had played just once this year, a friendly with South Africa. The team’s scheduled tune-up match with Britain ahead of Tokyo was called off because of COVID-19 restrictions.
The Copper Queens who are paired in Group F, will look to restore the hopes of Africa when they face China who also suffered a 4-1 defeat to Brazil in their next game while Netherlands will trade tackle with Brazil on Saturday July 24.
