Zambia Women’s Senior National Team will this afternoon open their 2020 COSAFA Women’s Championship account against Lesotho as group B gets underway with heads high bearing in mind the expectations from people back home who are looking forward to a new trophy presentation after the tournament.
The Copper Queens who were runners-up in 2019 will be hoping to do better this time around by scooping the title which they are yet to lift, but for this to happen they need to overcome their opponents starting with Lesotho whom they meet at 12:30hrs in a match slated for Wolfson Stadium.
On paper, Zambia looks like a better side to carry the day but Lesotho might be tricky because they are also in this tournament to prove critics wrong.
Coach Bruce Mwape will count on the availability of Chinese based striker Barbara Banda for goals upfront alongside Grace Chanda and Maylan Mulenga who could be one of the dangerous young players to look out for in this tournament has been the top goal-scorer in the Inaugural 2019 Edition of the Under-20 with 5 Goals to her name.
In the Midfield, Misozi Zulu is likely to be in the starting line up alongside Mary Wilombe who is back in the squad after a 2-year absence and she brings a variety of experience to the team not forgetting the Trickery Ireen ‘Xavi Sevila’ Lungu who will bring creativity in the team.
At the back, free-kick specialist Lushoomo Mweemba is expected to partner with Anita Mulenga at the heart of defense whereas Margaret Belemu and Martha Tembo will complete the backline on the right and left-back position respectively in making sure that Hazel Nali is well covered in goal to record the desired result.
On the other hand, Lesotho who missed out in the 2019 Edition of the Championship this time around is coming in with several foreign-based players being summoned by Coach Lehloenya Nkhasi which includes players from South Africa and the USA whose expectations are high in terms of delivering the results.
Coach Nkhasi will depend on the experienced short goal stopper Thuto Maifo who plays for Metheo Ladies in South Africa in goal and also the likes of Tšoanelo Leboka, others include the South African duo of Montšeng Matete from Semunye Ladies, Litšeoane Maloro from Bloemfontein Celtic not forgetting Phuzile Molefe are some of the names to look out for.
Lesotho who are affectionately known as ‘Mehalalitoe’ will be led by team captain Boitumelo ‘Queen’ Rabale, who plies her trade in the USA and she will be hoping to inspire her team to a good showing at the tournament starting with a stern test against 2019 finalists, Zambia.
The last time these two sides met was in the 2018 edition of the COSAFA with Zambia edging Lesotho 2-0 with Misozi Zulu and Barbara Banda finding the back of the net for the Copper Queens, so Zambia will be hoping history repeats itself this afternoon at the same venue they met from two years ago while it may be redemption time for Lesotho whose target is to come out of the group stages.
The Tournament will run up to 14th November, 2020 with matches being played at Wolfson and Gelvandel Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
Copper Queens probable line up: Nali Hazel, Margaret Belemu, Martha Tembo, Anita Mulenga, Lushomo Mweemba, Agness Musesa, Barbara Banda, Irene Lungu, Grace Chanda, Misozi Zulu, Maylan Mulenga.
