Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda says there are no special players in the Zambia squad as they prepare to face Uganda in the first leg of the second round of the 2028 CAF Women’s Olympic qualifier.
The two sides meet at Hamz Nakivubo Stadium in Kampala on Thursday, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 CAT.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Banda stressed the importance of competition for places within the squad, saying every player must continue to fight for their position.
“I will tell you, our team has got no special players. We are all equal. Our youngsters are so much talented, I can assure you; I have to fight for that position because I can’t just come and say I have it all in the team because we have competition,” Banda said.
The captain believes the experience of the senior players will be important in helping the younger members of the squad settle into international football.
She also welcomed the competition created by the new players, saying it has pushed the established members of the team to raise their standards.
Banda said Zambia were fully aware of the threat posed by Uganda and would not underestimate their opponents.
The Copper Queens have been preparing with the aim of securing a positive result across the two legs and advancing to the next round of the Olympic qualifying competition.
“As a team we only have one goal. To win so that we qualify for the next round. The team is ready,” Banda said.
The return leg will be played in Zambia, with the Copper Queens looking to put themselves in a strong position in Kampala before completing the tie on home soil.
