US-Based Copper Queens to Miss China Games

02.04.2025 | Football DNA

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has confirmed that four United States-based players from the Zambia Women’s National Team will not be traveling to China for the Yangchuan International Tournament.

FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga stated that captain Barbra Banda, Rachael Kundananji, Prisca Chilufya, and Grace Chanda would be unavailable due to additional travel measures introduced by the new administration in the United States.

Kamanga explained that after consulting key offices, including the Zambian mission in Washington and the players’ respective clubs, the association determined that it was in the players’ best interest to withdraw from the tournament. He clarified that the Orlando Pride trio of Banda, Chanda, and Chilufya, along with Bay FC’s Kundananji, would not participate in the two international friendly matches in China.

He further emphasized that the players remained committed to future assignments, recalling their participation in the previous international window when Zambia faced Malawi. To maintain the team’s competitiveness, he confirmed that the technical bench had already identified replacements.

Kamanga reaffirmed FAZ’s commitment to ensuring that all Zambian teams receive the best possible preparations for international competitions. He highlighted that the primary focus remained on getting the Copper Queens ready for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in July, similar to the support provided to the Under-17 boys currently competing in the AFCON tournament in Morocco.

The Copper Queens are set to begin their campaign at the 2025 Yangchuan International Tournament in China on April 5 against Thailand. A victory would see them advance to the final on April 8, where they would face either hosts China PR or Uzbekistan.