Zambians have blamed first-choice goalkeeper Ngambo Musole for their devastating loss at the hands of the Super Falcons on Friday.
The Copper Queens of Zambia suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat at the hands of the Super Falcons in the quarter-final clash of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Friday.
Osinachi Ohale opened the scoring early with a 2nd-minute header, latching onto a cross from a set piece.
The nine-time champions doubled the lead after Esther Okoronkwo slotted home a shot after a cross from Rasheedat Ajibade.
Chinwendu Ihezuo made it three for Nigeria after a long ball from Chiamaka Nnadozie found the striker, and she did the rest with a composed finish.
The woes of the Zambians were compounded as Nigeria maintained possession and stretched the play.
After the break, Esther Okoronkwo delivered a free kick, with Tosin Demehin meeting it with a header into the net.
Folashade Ijamilusi sealed the tie with a tap-in from a Rasheedat Ajibade cross, her first goal for the Super Falcons.
Zambia’s Barbra Banda was completely silenced all through as she bowed to the superior powers of the Super Falcons without a single shot on target.
However, in reaction to their humiliating loss in the hands of the Super Falcons, Zambians, in various comments on social media, blamed their Musole for their woes.
Many mentioned that the Copper Queens would not have lost to Nigeria if Musole were a good keeper.
They blamed Musole for being overweight, slow and unable to jump.
Musole, 27, had a 2.6 rating after the match, the lowest rating among the Copper Queens.
In reaction, the Zambian fans who, prior to the match, were optimistic about humiliating the Super Falcons, blamed Musole for their defeat in the match where no Zambian player had a shot on target.
This publication highlights below some of the blames Musole suffered at the hands of her compatriots.
Kapasa Christopher, “She’s giving me flashbacks and episodes of heart attacks. Very useless goalkeeper in the history of Zambian women’s football.
“She allowed Australia to come back from 4:0 down and win that game 5:4. Honestly, how can we win today’s game?”
Newstyle Hichilo: The goalkeeper is finished; she can’t dive, just standing and complaining too much.”
Bruce Findi, “This goalkeeper is a problem in that team.”
Zwelethemba Krwala, “The girls were not themselves; nothing worked for them on the day. Also, the goalkeeper was always the weakest link.”
Chichi Chanda, “How can you save a ball when you are just thinking about silk, chilimba and being a matron for a kitchen party?”
Official Mweemba, “The goalkeeper’s body is too heavy.”
Jericho Mwandila, “Honestly, the goalkeeper’s performance has been concerning, especially with those aerial balls she could’ve easily claimed with a timely punch or catch. Instead, she stood frozen, unable to dive or jump effectively.”
Lyson Mulenga, “If our first-choice goalkeeper is like this, what more the others?. And all the games she is allowing early goals”
Asheka Mubisa, “Our coach didn’t see it coming, but from the first game we could see our goalkeeper was too slow in response to the attacking strikes; she needs to start a family; she is old. But in today’s game we’ve been outplayed by Nigeria on all angles.”
DK Mawere, “It was just a matter of time before she cost us a game. Time to retire most of our senior players and bring up most of our under-23s.”
Mathews Muonga, “In as much as we realise that football is a teamwork sport, this one is overweight and aged; put her in a goalkeeper coach team.
“Try young and lightweight ones. Help Nali and Catherine. Some of the goals we’ve conceded throughout our stay at WAFCON could have been prevented.”
