Our focus is on Morocco game, Chipasula
By Cecilia Nayame
ZAMBIA Women national team players Mercy Chipasula and Mwila Mufunta say they will use experience gained at junior level to help the team beat Morocco in the opening match of the Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Championship this Saturday.
The Copper Queens will face the Lionesses in the opening match set for Olympic Stadium in Rabat before meeting Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo on July 9 and 12 at the El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia, respectively.
Speaking in separate interviews in Casablanca yesterday, Chipasula who is also under-17 women national team captain said the matches she has played at junior level against the North Africans will be enough to help the Copper Queens deliver the desired results.
She believes the Moroccan junior team skill is the same as those at the senior level.
“I am glad that at least I have experience on what kind of skill they (Morocco) use. I have played them before although at the under-17, but I believe that there is not that much difference from the two (the junior and senior team),” Chipasula said.
She is looking forward to seeing the team finishing top of Group A and qualify to the next round of the competition.
“We need to win all the group stage games. We need to come out with a convincing result so that we can progress to the next round of the competition,” she said.
Chipasula, who is among the junior players that has been summoned by coach Nora Hauptle for the WAFCON assignment, is happy to be part of the senior team participating at the Africa Cup Championship.
“I am happy that I am part of the senior national team playing at the WAFCON this year. I am happy because, soon I will be back in the same country for the under-17 World Cup, so whatever I am learning from the tournament will be enough for me to share with my friends (under-17 players) ahead of the World Cup,” she said.
And Mufunte, who is also coming from the under-17 national team expressed happiness to be among the top three goalkeepers at the tournament for the Copper Queens.
“I am happy to be here (Casablanca). It has always been my dream to play at big tournaments…I am looking forward to the starting of the competition,” she said.
She described Group A as fair.
“The group is okay. I can’t wait for the match against Morocco, it will be a good game,” she said.
She appealed to fans to rally behind the team.
“Yes, pressure can be there but not that much. That game is a must win for us, we have no option but to win,” she said.
