Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Hon. Elvis C. Nkandu has urged the Copper Queens to rise above their recent disappointment at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), calling on senior players to lead by example and instill confidence in the squad.
Speaking when he met Copper Queens Captain Barbra Banda at his office, Hon. Nkandu emphasized the importance of self-reflection, unity, and hard work as Zambia seeks to bounce back from her recent disappointment.
“As captain, you need to build confidence among your teammates. Some of them may feel it is the end of the road, but it’s in such moments that leadership matters most,” Hon. Nkandu told Copper Queens skipper Barbra Banda. “We believe in this team as a government, and our role is to support and encourage you to keep working hard.”
The Minister said the government remains fully committed to supporting the team, noting that Zambia has become a formidable force in global football, with expectations rising both locally and internationally.
“There is no lucky in modern football, it’s about hard work. We need to reflect on what went wrong and what we did right so we can do better. In today’s game, there are no weaker teams. Everyone wants to beat Zambia, especially knowing we have two of the world’s most valuable female players,” he said.
Hon. Nkandu also noted that several nations are reinforcing their squads with naturalized players, a growing trend Zambia must be mindful of when preparing for future competitions.
Meanwhile, the Copper Queens captain has thanked the government for its continued support and pledged that the team remains focused and committed to upcoming international assignments.
“We are grateful for the support we received throughout the tournament. Even though we fell short, we still want to make the country proud,” Banda said. “We are committed to the next task and understand the need to work together as a team to improve.”
Credit: Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts Media team
