BARBRA JOINS COPPER QUEENS
… Captain leads 5 foreign-based stars into camp in Uganda ahead of Thursday’s Olympic qualifier against the Crested Cranes
By Cecilia Nayame
COPPER Queens captain Barbra Banda and four other foreign-based players have joined the Zambia women’s national team in Uganda ahead of Thursday’s 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games qualifier against the Crested Cranes.
The other foreign-based players who have linked up with the team are defenders Margaret Belemu, Martha Tembo and Lushomo Mweemba, as well as midfielder Ireen Lungu.
The five are among eight foreign-based players summoned by coach Charles Haalubono to join 17 locally based players for the first-round, first-leg qualifier scheduled for Hamm Stadium in Nakivubo.
Strikers Racheal Kundananji, Prisca Chilufya and Mercy Chipasula are the other foreign-based players expected to join the team in Kampala today.
This is according to a statement issued by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) media team and posted on the association’s official Facebook page.
“The team will travel to Ndola for the second-leg match immediately after the match on Thursday to continue with preparations,” the statement reads.
The Copper Queens are targeting a third appearance at the Olympic Games as they begin their campaign to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles showpiece.
Thursday’s encounter is scheduled for 16:00 hours Ugandan time, while the return leg will be played next Tuesday at 18:00 hours at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Meanwhile, the Copper Princesses arrived in Casablanca, Morocco, yesterday ahead of a series of international friendly matches.
The Carol Kanyemba-tutored side is stepping up preparations for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, which kicks off this month in Morocco.
ENDS.
