28.06.2023 | FAZ |
Zambia Women’s National Team midfielder Ireen Lungu believes a win over Switzerland in Friday’s international friendly will boost the team’s morale ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Lungu who joined the team Tuesday evening from her base in Kazakhstan said the Copper Queens need a game that will get them to winning ways in order to carry the positivity alongside the European camping programme.
“If we win the game against Switzerland, it will boost each and every player’s morale so that in the next (friendly) game against Germany, everyone will be on another level,” Lungu said.
“The only thing that we are supposed to do is to work together and to utilise all the chances that we are going to have against Switzerland. The (European) camp means a lot because it is on another level and it is part of the World Cup preparations.”
The Copper Queens Wednesday morning took a short flight from Nuremberg to Zurich before a road trip to Switzerland’s bilingual town of Bienne, venue for Friday’s 18h00 kick-off friendly against Switzerland. Their final pre-World Cup warmup match will be against Germany on 7 July in Fürth.
They open their campaign against Japan at Waikato stadium on 22 July. Spain will be next on the Copper Queens’ Group C schedule before playing their final group match against Costa Rica in Hamilton on 31 July.
PROVISIONAL WORLD CUP SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Catherine Musonda (Tomiris-Turan-Kazakhstan), Eunice Sakala (Nkwazi Queens), Hazel Nali (Fatih Vatan Sport-Turkey), Chitete Munsaka (Elite Ladies), Letisha Lungu (ZESCO Ndola Girls)
DEFENDERS
Margaret Belemu (Shanghai Shengli-China), Martha Tembo (BIIK Kazygurt Shymkent-Kazakhstan), Lushomo Mweemba, Agness Musesa, Esther Siamfuko (all Green Buffaloes), Pauline Zulu (Elite Ladies), Esther Banda (BUSA), Judith Soko (YASA), Jackline Nkole (Indeni Roses), Mary Mulenga (Red Arrows), Vast Phiri (ZESCO Ndola Girls)
MIDFIELDERS
Comfort Selemani (Elite Ladies), Misozi Zulu (Hakkarigucu Spur-Turkey), Ireen Lungu, Hellen Chanda (both BIIK Kazygurt Shymkent-Kazakhstan), Evarine Susan Katongo (ZISD Women), Mary Wilombe, Susan Banda (both Red Arrows), Rhoda Chileshe (Indeni Roses), Prisca Chilufya (Fatih Karagumruk A.S-Turkey), Avell Chitundu (ZESCO Ndola Girls)
STRIKERS
Xiomara Mapepa (Elite Ladies), Ochumba Oseke Lubanji (Red Arrows), Regina Chanda (ZANACO Ladies), Hellen Mubanga, Rachael Nachula (both Zaragoza CFF-Spain), Grace Chanda, Rachael Kundananji (both Madrid CFF-Spain), Barbra Banda (Shanghai Shengli-China), Maylan Mulenga (Green Buffaloes)
Credit: Football Association of Zambia
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