Barbara Banda named in Copper Queens’ Cosafa provisional squad

Copper Queens’ coach Bruce Mwape has included Barbra Banda in his 33-player provisional squad for COSAFA Women’s Championship that will be held in South Africa.

From the 33 players called, 19 of them were part of the bronze winning squad at the CAF 2022 Women’s African Cup of Nations.

The Copper Queens have been drawn are in Group B

The 2019 runners up have been drawn alongside Namibia, Eswatini and Lesotho.

Group A comprises of hosts South Africa, Angola, Mauritius and Mozambique while Botswana , Malawi, Comoros and guest nation Tanzania who were crowned 2021 COSAFA Women’s Championships winners after a 1-0 victory over Malawi in the final at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium make up group C.

Riding on the success in Morocco where the team minted bronze after beating Nigeria in a tightly contested third and fourth play off, The Copper Queens are among the favorites to lift the trophy. 

The 2022 COSAFA Women’s Championship will take place between August 31st and September 11th in  Gqeberha, South Africa.

Group A: South Africa, Angola, Mauritius, Mozambique

Group B: Zambia, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini

Group C: Botswana, Malawi, Tanzania, Comoros

Full Squad

Goalkeepers: Eunice Sakala (Nkwazi Queens), Letisha Lungu (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Agness Banda (National Assembly), Mary Nanyinza, Catherine Musonda (both Indeni Roses), Chitete Munsaka (Lusaka Dynamos Women FC)

Defenders: Vast Phiri (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Esther Banda (BUSA), Esther Siamfuko (Queens Academy), Bertha Imponene (Nkwazi Queens), Agness Musesa, Lushomo Mweemba, Anita Mulenga, Martha Tembo (all Green Buffaloes), Judith Soko (YASA), Pauline Zulu (Lusaka Dynamos Women FC), Margaret Belemu (Shanghai Shengli-China),

Midfielders: Ireen Lungu (Green Buffaloes), Mary Wilombe (Red Arrows), Evarine Susan Katongo (ZISD Women), Natasha Witika (Bayelsa Queens-Nigeria), Avell Chitundu (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Maweta Chilenga (BUSA), Norin Betani (Indeni Roses), Misozi Zulu (Hakkariguku Spor FC -Turkey)

Forwards: Natasha Nanyangwe (Green Buffaloes), Ochumba Oseke Lubanji (Red Arrows), Elizabeth Mwale (ZISD Women), Eneless Phiri (Police Doves), Jessy Zulu (Pataaki), Noria Sosala (Indeni Roses), Barbara Banda (Shanghai Shengli-China), Lillian Mwaba (Queens Academy)