Zambia Women’s Super League champions ZESCO Ndola Girls have intensified preparations for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifiers with a pre-season training camp in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as they look to build on last year’s impressive continental debut.
The Ndola-based side has traded the Zambian winter for the East African coast, where the squad began camp with a recovery and team-bonding session along the Indian Ocean before turning its attention to a demanding schedule of training and high-profile friendly matches.
ZESCO are set to face two of Tanzania’s leading women’s clubs, JKT Queens and Simba Queens, in fixtures designed to sharpen the team ahead of the regional qualifiers, which will be staged in Gaborone, Botswana, from August 20 to 29. The tournament will determine Southern Africa’s representative at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League finals later this year.
The Tanzanian camp follows an encouraging domestic build-up in which the “Zegalicious” side hosted a four-team pre-season tournament in Mongu, Western Province. The competition featured Sepo Queens, Hope Queens and a Mongu Select side, providing the Zambian champions with valuable match fitness before embarking on their international preparations.
There is added motivation within the ZESCO camp after the club came agonisingly close to continental qualification on their debut last year. The Zambian champions reached the final of the COSAFA Qualifiers before narrowly losing 4-3 on penalties to Botswana’s Gaborone United Ladies after the match had ended 1-1 in regulation time.
That experience has strengthened belief within the squad, who now return for a second consecutive appearance determined to go one step further and secure a historic place at Africa’s premier club competition.
Despite travelling without several key players, ZESCO retain a strong squad. Captain Avell Chitundu, prolific attacker Enelesi Phiri and first-choice goalkeeper Hazel Natasha Nali are all absent as they continue national team duty with the Copper Queens at the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Their absence offers an opportunity for other members of the squad to impress during the Tanzanian tour before the full squad is reunited ahead of the Botswana tournament.
ZESCO Ndola Girls squad in Tanzania
Goalkeepers: Annie Namonje, Leticia Lungu, Dears Mwale, Berry Lungu.
Defenders: Pauline Zulu, Jackline Chomba, Judith Soko, Mable Bwalya, Majorie Mulenga, Melody Kipimpi, Grace Kapansa, Annie Kunga.
Midfielders: Esther Muchinga, Penelope Mulubwa, Abigail Munkombwe, Dorothy Yambayamba, Dorothy Daka, Elizabeth Mupeso, Ivy Omondi.
Forwards: Thandiwe Ndhlovu, Charity Mubanga, Milla Milambo and Fridah Kabwe.
With continental qualification once again within reach, ZESCO Ndola Girls will hope their preparations in Tanzania provide the platform for another deep run—this time with the ultimate goal of booking their place among Africa’s elite clubs.
