The Zambia U-17 Women’s National Team are still in Zambia contrary to the earlier report that the team had managed to jet into Lilongwe, Malawi ahead of the kick off of the of 2022 COSAFA U-17 Girls Championship | AUSC Region 5 Games.
The Copper Princesses could jet into Lilongwe just a day before their opening game of the tournament.
The team was scheduled to leave for Lilongwe on Sunday but are still in the country after the Government failed to secure their travel to the neighbouring nation.
The travel arrangements for the U-19 African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games are being organized by the Government through the Ministry of Sports.
The U-17 Boys team managed to travel on Sunday after failing to travel on Saturday as initially planned.
“The Boys football team is already in Lilongwe but the girls are still in Zambia. The team was scheduled to travel on Sunday on a chartered plane but are still in the country after failed travel on both Sunday and Monday,” a source told the ZamFoot Crew.
The ZamFoot Crew understands that the team will jet out today but only a small number of players are traveling with others still waiting for their tickets.
“The travel arrangements organized again are a bit complicated. The team will have to go to east Africa and maybe sleep there and then head to Malawi tomorrow while the others close to ten are still uncertain on when they will be able to travel.”
The Copper Princesses have set their sights on retaining their COSAFA Regional Trophy which they won last year.
The Princesses will embark on their title defense journey on Thursday 1st December, 2022 when they will take on Botswana in their first match at the 2022 COSAFA U-17 Girls Championship | AUSC Region 5 Games at Bingu National Stadium at 12:00hours.
The match is a repeat of last year’s final in Maseru that was won 4-0 by Zambia, who breezed to the gold medal.
Zambia were deserved winners, with Jessy Zulu and Lucy Kajiya grabbing first half goals, and skipper Pumulo Lubasi and Gracious Tailoshi adding two more in the second period.
Botswana will now look to avenge that result as they were within minutes of their maiden COSAFA U17 Women’s Championship title last year only for Zambia to clinch it.
The match will actually be the fourth meeting between the two at the regional tournament with Zambia having won the previous three encounters scoring 10 goals and only conceding one.
The Copper Princesses who are under the tutelage of coach Naomi Phiri will then take on Comoros in their last Group B match on 5th December at the same venue and kick-off set at 10:00hrs.
The game will be televised and broadcasted live on COSAFA.TV and FIFA+ Application.
FULL SQUAD:
GOALKEEPERS
Margaret Phiri (One Boss Lady), Mufunte Mwila Chishala (Police Dove Queens FC)
DEFENDERS
Esther Musialela (Solwezi Academy Queens), Monica Mutisa (Green Buffaloes), Margret Gondwe (Luyando Foundation Girls), Suwilanji Lukundo, Theresa Musatila, Eunice Mutonyi (All Police Dove Queens FC)
MIDFIELDERS
Nang’andu Hakayobe (Choma Secondary School), Lubasi Pumulo (Green Buffaloes), Jessy Zulu (Green Buffaloes), Barbra Chewe (Football Chance Foundation), Mercy Chipasula (Kamfinsa Police Blue Eagles)
STRIKERS
Blessing Zangose Zulu (Pataaki Girls), Lucy Kajiya (Green Buffaloes), Masela Sekeseke (ZISD), Tricia Mabamba (Nchanga Queens), Nakazwe Ivwananji (Police Dove Queens FC), Elizabeth Namute (Green Buffaloes), Florence Munsaka (Choma Warriors Academy)
