Zambia v Japan Preview: Should Ochumba keep her place ahead of Ireen Lungu

👉 Bruce Mwape might keep the Zambian ‘Xabi’ on the bench

👉 Grant’s influence on the team appreciated

The Copper Queens start their Women’s World Cup campaign against Japan on Saturday.

Zambia coach Bruce Mwape and his technical bench are expected to keep faith with the players who featured in the 3-2 win over Germany in the final friendly match.

Ahead of the 9am kickoff, the major talking point is how the team will set up against the highly fancied Japanese on Saturday.

From inside Copper Queens, the ZamFoot Crew understands it will be similar to the game against the Germans.

Play with a low block and try to use the Racheal Kundananji – Barbra Banda outlet on the break.

The back line picks itself with Margret Belumu and Martha Tembo as full backs while the ever dependable Wawa-Litana like partnership Lushomo Mweemba and Agnes Musesa will get the nod.

Goalkeeper Catherine Musonda maintaining her place in goal in the absence of the injured Hazel Natasha Nali.

Six months ago, the midfield partnership of Evarine Katongo and Ireen Lungu could have been an obvious choice but that might be the case on Saturday morning.

Game plan and tactics now takes precedence.

Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant’s impact has been felt and this prompted FAZ to add him to the dugout team as one of Mwape’s assistant coach.

Initially, the Israeli was just supposed to act as Technical advisor during the team’s one month camp in Germany.

But following a 5 to 10 minutes analysis of the opposition, Grant’s assessment impressed everyone including Mwape, the American Technical advisor Lisa Coleman and some FAZ high ranking officials.

“Coach Bruce Mwape is an attacking coach and he made a suggestion the team should attack,” a ZamFoot Crew said.

“But Grant had another suggestion. He advised the bench not to play an open game but since Zambia is one of the inferior teams at the tournament, the team should go with a different approach.

Grant’s game plan was to pack the bus with Barbra Banda as a lone striker using her pacy to cause terror.

He emphasised that the Racheal Kundananji should play on the left flank and use her intelligence to support Banda whenever in possession.

It was almost similar to the way Zambia played against Ivory Coast in the AFCON qualifiers.

This worked as Zambia stunned the Germany prompting the World media to label it as one of the greatest shock of pre-World Cup.

But the problem is role of Ireen ‘Xabi’Lungu in the team.

Key midfielder Lungu started on the bench as Susan Banda was preferred in the holding midfield alongside Katongo.

With Zambia needing a goal late in the game, it was substitute Lungu’s sublime pass to Banda which sealed the win.

With Kundananji and Banda sure starters, Lungu might have to be content with a place of the bench again.

But a player of her quality needs to start.

There two other positions the former Green Buffaloes midfielder can occupy.

She can in the hole behind Banda but that means Lubanji Ochumba drops out of the team.

The other position is for to be on the right wing ahead of Aveil Chitundu.

Actually, Lungu is usually placed higher up the pitch at club level.

Zambia Probable XI: Catherine Musonda – Margret Belumu, Agnes Musesa, Lushomo Mweemba, Martha Tembo – Susan Banda, Evarine Katongo, Lubanji Ochumba – Aveil Chitundu, Barbra Banda, Racheal Kundananji

ZamFoot Pick: Ireen Lungu – Start her ahead of either Ochumba or Chitundu