Black Queens head coach Nora Hauptle says the team's elimination from the qualifiers of the 2024 Olympic Games is disappointing but praised the team for their performance.

Despite a spirited 3-3 result against Zambia in Ndola on Wednesday afternoon, Ghana suffered elimination with a 4-3 aggregate having lost 1-0 in Accra last week.

The game seemed to be heading to extra time until the Copper Queens skipper Barbra Banda scored a free kick goal in the 96th minute of the game to break Ghanaian hearts. This was after substitute Azumah Bugre had restored Ghana's lead in the 65th minute.

Not sure many expected the Black Queens to go to Ndola and put up that performance. Pure bravery!

Proud of the team’s progress I n the last year and kudos to Nora Hauptle for the good work she’s been on — too good Zambia fans are asking their FA to appoint her pic.twitter.com/mgrREHrZ4o

— Lawrence Baidoo (@kweku_lawrence) February 29, 2024

The Black Queens were hoping to advance to the last round of the qualifiers where they would have faced Morocco who beat Tunisia later in the day.

"We knew that we needed to score to get back into the game. Zambia had a good moment, a good transition and they got it at once and I think we started to play football...," said the Swiss trainer after the game.

"We had a good control of a lot of moments...In the last minute, my team was brave, my team was playing football and [they] were fighting. I cannot blame them. In the end, sometimes it's hard.

"We would have loved to go overtime [but] all in all, disappointing for us but kudos to Zambia."

The elimination means Ghana's female team's quest for a first-ever Olympic Games appearance will wait for another period.

However, the teams will now focus on the upcoming Women's Africa Cup of Nations which is set for Morocco later this year.