Zambian winger Samiah Phiri has expressed her excitement after earning her first call-up to the Copper Queens local camp as the national team prepares for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco this March.
Speaking to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) following her inclusion in the 38-member provisional squad, Phiri said:
“I am honored to be here, I am very excited. The players are very welcoming, they have been helping me with everything and being nice.”
The 20-year-old, currently plying her trade in France with Thonon Évian Grand Genève FC in the Seconde Ligue, highlighted the difference in playing styles compared to her experiences in Europe and the United States:
“Everyone is very physical, they love the game, I can tell it’s very different from France and US. I think I am adapting pretty well. In the US it’s physical but not as physical as here. I think it is another play style that I must get used to, but I think it will come very soon.”
Phiri joined Thonon Évian in July 2025 following a brief spell with FC Nantes and has quickly caught the eye of national team selectors.
Looking ahead to the WAFCON finals, Phiri is optimistic about her chances to make the final tournament squad and is motivated by the opportunity to represent Zambia on a major stage:
“I am playing and hoping that I will be there to represent Zambia and maybe come home with the trophy. It’s an honor to be here and play for Zambia—work as hard as you can, just represent your country and honor all the time that you are called.”
The Copper Queens find themselves in Group C for WAFCON 2026, alongside defending champions Nigeria, Malawi, and Egypt. The tournament, running from 17 March to April, also serves as a qualifier for the Brazil 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with the top four teams earning automatic berths.
Zambia will be aiming to build on its historic FIFA Women’s World Cup debut in 2023 in Australia and New Zealand, hoping to establish itself as one of Africa’s rising powers in women’s football.
