By FAZ Media
The Zambia Women’s National Team have left for Seoul for two FIFA international friendlies against South Korea to be played on 7 and 11 April at the Suwon World Cup and Yongin Mireu Stadia.
The local contingent of Bruce Mwape’s side left Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka via Qatar Airways Tuesday afternoon.
The nine foreign based players called for the South Korea assignment will join directly in Seoul.
Mwape said the two friendlies were important as they will help identify the team’s strengths ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup where the Copper Queens are in Group C alongside Spain, Japan and Costa Rica.
“We shall still continue working on our finishing and slowly, we are getting there. We have played a lot of friendly games starting with Colombia and the tournament in Turkey,” Mwape said.
“We are almost concluding (with) the final list (of players for the World Cup).”
FINAL-SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Catherine Musonda (Indeni Roses), Eunice Sakala (Nkwazi Queens), Hazel Nali (Fatih Vatan Sport-Turkey)
DEFENDERS
Agness Musesa, Esther Siamfuko (both Green Buffaloes), Judith Soko (YASA), Vast Phiri (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Mary Mulenga (Red Arrows), Pauline Zulu (Elite Ladies), Martha Tembo (BIIK Kazygurt Shymkent-Kazakhstan)
MIDFIELDERS
Evarine Katongo (ZISD Women), Mary Wilombe, Susan Banda (both Red Arrows), Xiomara Mapepa, Comfort Selemani (both Elite Ladies), Ireen Lungu, Hellen Chanda (both BIIK Kazygurt Shymkent-Kazakhstan)
STRIKERS
Barbara Banda (Shanghai Shengli-China), Ochumba Oseke Lubanji (Red Arrows),
Hellen Mubanga, Rachael Nachula (both Zaragoza CFF-Spain), Grace Chanda, Rachael Kundananji (both Madrid CFF), Inonge Kaloustian (ZISD Women)
Copper Queens potential striker Penelope Mulenga just scored a goal over the weekend. While I understand she is still in College and in the USA colleges will be fine for Summer by May. This is one player FAZ needs to invite if they have not yet extended the invitation to her.
I read somewhere someone in a Zambia blog that the reason she was not being called was because she was pregnant.
She is playing in the College NCAA Division and is very active.