Zambia coach Bruce Mwape has declared their second fixture at the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup as a must-win after their disastrous start in the competition.

The Coppers Queens kicked off their Group C campaign with a 5-0 defeat against Japan, and anything less than a win against Spain, who beat Costa Rica 3-0 in their opener, will spell doom their little hopes of making it past the group stage of the competition being co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.

Mwape has stressed the reason the Copper Queens must go for victory by saying: “We have done almost everything we can. The team has prepared adequately, and at least in tomorrow’s game, people should expect a different game altogether. We want maximum points because for us to qualify, we need to win the remaining games.”

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Mwape’s sentiments were echoed by captain Barbra Banda, who said her team is up to the task when they come up against Spain. She said: “I think Spain is not a pushover,” admitted Banda, adding: “It’s a very good team. So we are expecting a very tough game tomorrow, but we are up to the challenge. We just have to do our best.”

Zambia will be without goalkeeper Catherine Musonda, who was suspended after collecting two yellow cards following a challenge on Japan’s Riko Ueki. In the other Group C match, table-toppers Japan will entertain Costa Rica at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.