The Zambia Women’s national team have started preparation for the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations final round Qualifier against Namibia.
The Copper Queens will first face Banyana Banyana of South Africa in an international friendly match to help them in their preparation for the Namibia clash.
Head coach, Bruce Mwape is confident his players have gained enough experience to perform at the highest level and extend people’s expectations.
Mwape wants to give young players like Ochumba Oseke Lubanji and Evarine Susan Katongo a chance in the friendly match against Banyana Banyana
“With the experience that we have gained from the previous tournaments, I think the girls will not be under pressure. They have the experience, and they will do better than people expect,” Mwape said.
“Although it’s a friendly game we expect our girls to do better and we want to give chance to some of the players that have not played full games like our strikers such as Ochumba Oseke.”
“We want to see how she (Ochumba) can play against South Africa. We also want to see the junior players and how they can play. They have settled well and they have been with the team on several occasions so they will try to show that they can be part of the first eleven,” he added.
Turkey-based midfielder Misozi Zulu will miss the South Africa friendly and the first leg of the AWCON Qualifier against Namibia due to club commitments.
“She will be released (by the club) on the 14th so she will probably join the team on the 15th or 16th but I don’t think she will part of the team that will play the qualifying game and the friendly,” Mwape said.
Striker Grace Chanda believes the players have grown since their participation at the Olympics and will work hard to qualify for the 2022 AWCON.
“Preparations are going well, we have already played a few league games and we have started preparations in good time. The friendly game with South Africa will help us prepare for Namibia,” She said.
“We will work hard to qualify because everyone one is depending on us.”
“We have grown, from the time we played the Olympics and the league has improved. We believe good things are on the way and we believe even to the World Cup we can qualify.
“To the fans, we love and continue supporting us and we will do our level best,” she added.
Meanwhile defender Margaret Belemu is already thinking ahead and wants to qualify for the World Cup.
“The team is shaping well and everyone in camp is pushing. The South African game will help us gauge ourselves ahead of the Namibia game. Our target is to beat Namibia and qualify for the AWCON where we can book a place at the world cup which won’t be easy but with determination, focus and teamwork we will do it,” She said.
“Everyone now will be coming ready to play us because we have been to the Olympics and have played at AWCON.”
The Copper Queens will face South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in an international friendly on Saturday, February 12th before hosting Namibia in a 2022 Morocco Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) Qualifier.
Both the friendly and the first leg will be played at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka.
The Copper Queens will then travel to Windhoek for the second leg match against the Brave Gladiators set for February 22nd.
The winner over two legs will qualify for the AWCON tournament that will run from 2-23 July and also doubles as the African qualifiers to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand.
