ROAD TO AWCON: Copper Queens in Morocco test
The Zambia Women’s national team will this evening face-off with the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) hosts Morocco in an international friendly at 21:00 Zambian time at the Moulay Abdellah in Rabat
Coach Bruce Mwape believes the match will help the team to familiarize themselves with the type of Football North African teams play.
The Copper Queens are in Group B alongside North African side Tunisia, Cameroon, and Togo.
Mwape says he will give chance to most players in the squad. He has set the target for today’s game to work on the front line.
“We decided to play some high-profile games. Playing the host nation will help us. We still want to make sure we have the right players in the right positions and make sure everyone is ready before the tournament,” he said.
“We will be looking at specific positions, like the upfront, We want to make sure the strikers can put the ball behind the net, that’s the most important thing. If we can get goals then we will know where we are going. Not only that we also want to see that the team is well balanced. If anything we will give chance to all the players in the squad.”
“We are playing Morocco because we want to know the type of game in North Africa, In our group, we have Tunisia which is a North African side. It’s important to know what kind of football North Africans play because if we go further in the Competition we could face another North African side,” he added.
Skipper Barbra Banda is expected to lead the attack alongside Grace Chanda, Ochumba Oseke Lubanji, and Misozi Zulu.
In Midfield Mwape has options in Irene Lungu, Mary Wilombe, Maweta Chilenga, and the amazing Evarine Susan Katongo.
Lushomo Mweemba is likely to partner Agness Musesa at the heart of the defense with Margaret Belemu and Martha Tembo on either side.
Turkey-based goalkeeper Hazel Nali is expected to take up her place between the sticks.
The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will run from July 2-23.
The Top four teams at the AWCON which will run from July 3-23 in Morocco will qualify for the World Cup that will be held in Australia and New Zealand next year.
Two more teams will be involved in play-offs with teams from other continents.