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Football fans have reacted to the unveiling of the 26 member Copper Queens squad to represent Zambia at the forthcoming women’s FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Coach Bruce Mwape named the squad in a seven minute video posted on the official Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Facebook page that has since gone viral.
Read more: Chipolopolo assistant coach names 23-member squad ahead of Tuesday’s game (see full list)
Mwape named the usual suspects in the form of forwards Barbra Banda, Rachael Kundananji and Grace Chanda.
Others are Margaret Belemu, Martha Tembo, Lushomo Mweemba and Judith Soko who are defenders.
Goalkeeper Hazel Nali will compete for a starting place in goal with Catherine Musonda and Eunice Sakala at Zambia’s maiden World Cup appearance.
In midfield, Evarine Katongo, Susan Banda, Mary Willombe and Avell Chitundu have been named in the squad.
Esther Siamfuko, Comfort Selemani and Rhoda Chileshe have been named as the three standby players.
Various football fans have had their say on the team selection, with the majority wishing the girls the best of luck as they compete at the World Cup for the very first time.
One Facebook user, identified as Kakengela Kombe expressed delight that one of his favourite players made the selection.
“I was looking for the name Avell and I finally found it. Congratulations to this young and talented girl,” the post read.
Another Facebook user identified as Josh King said he expects this team to produce more goals for Zambia.
However, others were not entirely convinced with the squad.
“Good team for the future, the midfield still not convincing. We have a long way to the level of the World Cup. Great masterminds would have improvised using some of these available forwards. Chitundu also deserves some game time please,” wrote Sepiso Hope Nyambe in the comments section of the FAZ post where the names have been enlisted.
Zambia is in Group C where the Copper Queens will face Spain, Costa Rica and Japan.
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