28 Copper Queens in camp preparing for Botswana clash
Copper Queens boss Bruce Mwape has named a strong 28 member squad ahead of Friday’s international friendly match against the Mares of Botswana.
U-20 skipper and midfield magician Evarine Susan Katongo leads the squad currently in camp.
Katongo has become a vital part of the Zambia Women’s national team set up after graduating from the U-20 national team making her competitive debut at the Olympics.
Mwape has also roped in a few new players from ‘the All Stars vs the Rest’ initiative including Square Maiwase, Norin Betani and Maweta Glory Chilenga.
Other notable players in the team include midfield workhorse, Rhoda Chileshe, Ochumba Oseke Lubanji, Catherine Musonda, Martha Tembo, Lushomo Mweemba , Siomala Mapepa and Natasha Nanyangwe.
Zambia will play Botswana who have also qualified for the Morocco 2022 AWCON on Friday, April 29, and May 2 at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka as part of their first phase of preparations.
In the final phase when the foreign based players join in, the team will have an international camp that will precede the tournament in Morocco.
Draws for the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will be held on Friday at the Mohammed VI Complex in Rabat with the 12 qualified teams expected to know their opponents.
FULL LOCAL TEAM
GOALKEEPERS
Catherine Musonda (Indeni Roses), Agness Banda (National Assembly), Eunice Sakala (Nkwazi Queens), Leticia Lungu (Zesco United)
(DEFENDERS)
Esther Banda (BUSA), Martha Tembo Anita Mulenga, Lushomo Mweemba, Annie Kibanji, Judith Soko (all Green Buffaloes), Esther Siamfuko (Queens Academy), Chota Bwalya (Zanaco), Elizabeth Nachivula (Red Arrows)
(MIDFIELDERS)
Rhodah Chileshe, Norin Betani (both Indeni Roses), Natasha Nanyangwe (Green Buffaloes), Mary Wilombe, Mary Mambwe (both Red Arrows), Evarine Katongo (ZISD), Elizabeth Mupeso, Siomala Mapepa (both Lusaka Dynamos), Avell Chitundu (Zesco United), Chilenga Maweta (BUSA)
(STRIKERS)
Ochumba Oseke Lubanji, Maiwase Square (both Red Arrows), Lungowe Namasiku (ZISD), Ngosa Chabwe (Nkwazi Queens)