WE REMAIN FOCUSED
…Nothing will derail the team’s commitment to improving the standards of women’s football-Barbra
By Cecilia Nayame
COPPER Queens Captain Barbra Banda says nothing will derail the team’s commitment to improving the standards of women football in Zambia despite a disappointing exit from the ongoing 2024 Morocco Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Championship in Morocco.
Speaking when she met Minister of Youth, Sport and Art Elvis Nkandu at his office in Lusaka yesterday, Banda pledged the team’s commitment at future international competitions.
She said all players would remain focused and respond to the demands of tournaments.
“We are grateful for the support we received throughout the tournament [WAFCON]. Even though we fell short, we still want to make the country proud,” Banda said.
She commended government for the support rendered.
“We are committed to the next task as we understand the need to work together as a team,” she added.
Nkandu has urged the Copper Queens to rise above the bar and forge ahead.
He said it is important for senior players to take the lead and instil confidence in the team which had junior players.
“As captain, you need to build confidence among your teammates…some of them may feel it is the end of the road but it’s in such moments that leadership matters most,” Nkandu said.
He emphasised the importance of self reflection, unity, and hard work as the team seek to bounce back from the 0-5 loss against Nigeria.
“As government, we believe in the team and our role is to support and encourage you to keep working hard,” he said.
Nkandu said Zambia had become a formidable force in global football with expectations rising both local and international.
“There is no luck in modern football, it’s about hard work. We need to reflect on what went wrong and what we did right so we can do better,” he said.
Nkandu said several nations were reinforcing their teams with naturalised players, a trend which Zambia must remember when preparing for future competitions.
“In today’s game, there are no weaker teams. Everyone wants to beat Zambia, especially knowing that we have two of the world’s most valuable female players,” he added.
Zambia lost 0-5 in the quarter finals to Nigeria and eliminated from WAFCON during the match played last Friday at Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
