Green Buffaloes in Double Action Ladies challenge as they start title defence

By Moses Pedro Mwanza and and Aaron Mubanga Jnr 

🏆2023 CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers Match Day 1

⚽ Green Buffaloes WFC (Zambia) 🆚 Double Action Ladies (Botswana) 

🗓️ 30th August, 2021

🕑 15h30

🏟️ Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, Durban. 

📺 Live stream on FIFA+, Supersport and My DStv App

Green Buffaloes Women Football Club will this afternoon start their title defence at the 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers with a tricky tie when they lockhorns with Double Action of Botswana.

The  Group A encounter is set for a 15h30 kick off at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban, South Africa.

The Zambian Champions will hope to replicate their performance last year which saw them win the tournament and qualify for the main tournament. 

Head Coach at this tournament Carol Kanyemba Daka is expecting a tough match and competition in general as everyone is looking at dethroning the Zambia army sponsored outfit. 

“It’s a different feeling, It’s not easy being a defending Champion, everyone is working to dethrone us, it’s a heavy load to carry because people are expecting a lot from us,” she said. 

“Our group is not easy, Double Action is a good team, not a team that we can easily walk over but we have prepared for them and every other team.  They have all prepared but we will put up our best.”

Daka who will be assisted by Kaluba Kangwa, Lubinda Liwilu with Bornface Banda as the goalkeeper coach will be looking to make history by leading the team a successful defence becoming the first team to do so. 

This is the third edition of the championship with the winners Qualifying to the CAF Women’s Champions League Tournament set for Ivory Coast later this year.

In goal, Aisha Mbwana who has been the long term first choice goal minder now faces stiff competition from Copper Queens goalkeepers in Petronella Musole Ng’ambo and Eunice Sakala. 

In defence, in the absence of Agness Musesa who is suspended for today’s game, Lushomo Mweemba will most likely be partnered by Martha Katila Banda, Memory Nthala and Loveness Malunga. 

Daka also has options in Diana Banda, Esther Banda, and Comfort Selemani. 

In midfield Maweta Chilenga is expected to pull the strings alongside Lubasi Pumulo with Joana Benaya as the base. Margaret Chisenga and Salome Phiri are also available. 

Upfront is where Daka will have a big headache to decide who plays with Xiomara Mapepa, Natasha ‘Little Tasha ‘Nanyangwe, Maylan Mulenga, Agnes Phiri, Enelesi Phiri, Bwalya Namute Chileshe and Lucy Kajiya all available for selection.