Copper Queens players have revealed that Competition on the team is stiff ahead of the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations.
Midfielder Rhoda Chileshe has returned to the national team set up after a lengthy absence after suffering a knee injury in Cameroon in March 2020.
Head coach Bruce Mwape has been including new players in his team and Chileshe believes it’s the duty of the senior players to help the young ones realize their full potential.
“I am happy to be back it’s a big motivation for me. I have to help the team and put in an effort, I have to start where I left off.
Competition in the team is there but I will work hard to find myself in the best 11. We need to work on our midfield and strike force ahead of the AFCON,” she said.
” We need to help the young players, they have very talented but they need us senior players to help them reach where they need to be.
“It will be tough playing Botswana, I have to fight hard and get into the team.
“We just have to prepare adequately in whichever group that we will be placed in. I missed opportunities with the Olympics hence I need to work hard and to get back to my level best,” she added.
Meanwhile defender Lushomo Mweemba says preparations are going on well for the two games against Botswana and the AWCON.
Lushomo believes the team needs to prepare adequately for the Africa Cup of Nations and it does not matter which group they are drawn in tomorrow.
“The preparations are going on well. The new players are doing well and contributing to the team. There is a lot of competition in the team. We need to work on the midfield and upfront ahead of the AFCON,” Lushomo said.
“The two games against Botswana will be tough but will help us prepare for the tournament.”
“For the draw, we just need to prepare for anything. We have to be ready to compete in whatever group,” She added.
Zambia will play Botswana who have also qualified for the Morocco 2022 AWCON on Friday, April 29, and May 2 at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka as part of their first phase of preparations.
Draws for the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will be held on Friday at the Mohammed VI Complex in Rabat with the 12 qualified teams expected to know their opponents.
