Copper Queens depart Lusaka for Korea to honour two-legged friendlies

The Zambia Women’s National Team has left for Seoul for two FIFA international friendlies against South Korea to be played on April 7 and April 11, at the Suwon World Cup and Yongin Mireu Stadia.

The local contingent of Bruce Mwape’s side left Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) in Lusaka via Qatar Airways Tuesday afternoon.

The nine foreign based players called for the South Korea assignment will join directly in Seoul.

Mwape said the two friendlies were important as they will help identify the team’s strengths ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup where the Copper Queens are in Group C alongside Spain, Japan and Costa Rica.

“We shall still continue working on our finishing and slowly, we are getting there. We have played a lot of friendly games starting with Colombia and the tournament in Turkey.

“We are almost concluding (with) the final list (of players for the World Cup,” Mwape said.

Here is the final squad.

Goalkeepers: Catherine Musonda (Indeni Roses), Eunice Sakala (Nkwazi Queens), Hazel Nali (Fatih Vatan Sport-Turkey)

Defenders: Agness Musesa, Esther Siamfuko (both Green Buffaloes), Judith Soko (YASA), Vast Phiri (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Mary Mulenga (Red Arrows), Pauline Zulu (Elite Ladies), Martha Tembo (BIIK Kazygurt Shymkent-Kazakhstan)

Midfielder: Evarine Katongo (ZISD Women), Mary Wilombe, Susan Banda (both Red Arrows), Xiomara Mapepa, Comfort Selemani (both Elite Ladies), Ireen Lungu, Hellen Chanda (both BIIK Kazygurt Shymkent-Kazakhstan)

Strikers: Barbara Banda (Shanghai Shengli-China), Ochumba Oseke Lubanji (Red Arrows),
Hellen Mubanga, Rachael Nachula (both Zaragoza CFF-Spain), Grace Chanda, Rachael Kundananji (both Madrid CFF), Inonge Kaloustian (ZISD Women)

Contributed by Augustine Sichula

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