.The dreams of the National Hockey Team to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games were shattered when they faced a decisive defeat by Ghana in a Pool B match held at Tuks Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. Simultaneously, the Zambian men's team suffered a 4-1 loss to Egypt in a match that had no bearing on the tournament's outcome. Zambia's performance in the tournament was marked by a 3-1 loss to Ghana and a narrow 1-0 defeat against Kenya, resulting in their placement at the bottom of Group B. The women's team needed a victory to secure a spot in the finals and keep their chances alive for a ticket to the prestigious 2024 Paris Olympic Games. At halftime, the Golden Girls found themselves trailing 4-1, with Ghana extending their lead by adding three more goals in the second half. Zambia's consolation goal was scored by Margaret Munthali. Coach Floyd Chomba attributed the loss to the unseasonably cold weather in Pretoria, with which the players were not accustomed. Chomba noted that the low temperatures, which dropped to 8 degrees Celsius, had an adverse impact on the team's performance. Some players even took to the field while suffering from a fever. Zambian player Esther Mwale expressed the team's disappointment, as they had aspired to reach the semi-finals but fell short of their goal due to the challenging conditions.