Barbra Banda to lead Copper Queens against Namibia
Copper Queens skipper Barbra Banda will lead the team when they take on Namibia in the 2022 TotalEnergies AWCON Qualifier Second Round two legged tie.
Banda missed the first round against Malawi due to club engagements in China. But now with the season off she is available to be part of the squad.
Banda was exceptional at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics scoring back to back hattricks to become the first player in the history of the Competition.
The availability of the former Logroño forward is a big boost for Bruce Mwape’s team ahead of the must win games.
Banda is expected to be joined by the likes of Rachel Kundananji and locally-based stars. Coach Bruce Mwape is expected to name his squad for the match in the next coming days.
With only about a month to the second and last round of the 2022 TotalEnergies Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON), expectations are very high as 22 teams will be battling out for only 11 spots to make it to the 12th Edition of the AWCON Tournament.
Out of the initial 44 who entered the qualification with some withdrawing at the last hurdle in the first round, 22 teams are remaining across the continent and they will be fighting for the last breath next month to secure Qualification to the finals to be hosted by Morocco in July.
The second round fixtures will take place between 14-23 February, 2022 With The Copper Queens of Zambia hosting The Brave Gladiators of Namibia in the first leg of Qualifiers before the return match a week later.
Zambia defeated Malawi 4-3 on aggregate in the first round while Namibia fought hard to overcome a first leg defeat as they marched on 5-3 on aggregate to set up a mouthwatering COSAFA Derby with the Copper Queens.
This year’s Edition of the AWCON Tournament which is the 12th will have 12 teams including the hosts also doubles as the African Qualifiers for the 2023 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by Morocco from 2-23 July, 2022.
The top four teams at the AWCON tournament will earn themselves a direct ticket to the 2023 World Cup which will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.