05.07.2023 | FIFA |
Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji among Copper Queens stars out to shine on nation's first World Cup appearance.
Zambia primed for first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup
Exciting forward Barbra Banda will captain side
Copper Queens drawn in group with Japan, Spain and Costa Rica
Zambia coach Bruce Mwape has declared his team “can shake the whole world” at Australia & New Zealand 2023.
The nation qualified for their maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup by finishing third at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and will head to the global finals with a youthful and exciting squad.
If the Copper Queens are to make good on Mwape’s bold claim, however, they will need their star performers to rise to the occasion. Here, we profile five players integral to Zambia’s hopes of making a mark Down Under…
Hazel Nali
Position: Goalkeeper Date of birth: 4 April 1998
Nali’s WAFCON penalty shootout heroics against Senegal thrillingly secured Zambia’s place at Australia & New Zealand 2023. With the winner of that quarter-final showdown guaranteed a ticket Down Under, Nali saved Ndeye Diakhate's spot-kick before powering home the winning penalty herself.
An athletic goalkeeper with excellent reflexes, Nali’s confidence on the ball helps Zambia build from the back.
Lushomo Mweemba
Position: Defender Date of birth: 10 April 2001
Mweemba only turned 22 in April but has already established herself as an important figure in the heart of Zambia’s backline.
A strong, composed centre-back with impressive tactical awareness, Mweemba performs with maturity far beyond her years. Her accomplished performance in the Copper Queens’ decisive WAFCON victory over Senegal was rewarded with the Player of the Match accolade.
Grace Chanda
Position: Midfielder/forward Date of birth: 11 June 1997
Equally capable of operating in an advanced attacking midfield position or in a deeper role, Chanda’s creativity and goalscoring threat make her a valuable asset for coach Mwape.
She was one of the stars of Zambia’s WAFCON campaign and was on the three-person shortlist for last year’s African Player of the Year award. Chanda plays her club football for Spanish top-flight side Madrid CFF.
Barbra Banda
Position: Forward Date of birth: 20 March 2000
Zambia’s influential captain exploded on to the world stage at the Olympic Games in 2021, scoring hat-tricks in Zambia’s opening two games of the tournament against the Netherlands and China PR. She is the only player in history to score back-to-back trebles at the Olympics.
Banda is a fast, skilful striker and possesses outstanding finishing ability. Coach Mwape described her as “a fighter, a person who doesn’t like to lose, and one of our most dependable players”.
Racheal Kundananji
Position: Forward Date of birth: 3 June 2000
A team-mate of Chanda’s at Madrid CFF, Kundananji will head Down Under on the back of an outstanding 2022/23 season. The dynamic forward hit 25 goals to finish runner-up in the Liga F Golden Boot race. She concluded the campaign in stunning style, with her brace in a 2-1 win over Barcelona handing the Catalan giants a first league defeat since 2021.
Ahead of the Women’s World Cup, she has set out her desire to “show the world the stuff Zambians are made of”.
Credit: FIFA
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