Zambia’s women head coach Bruce Mwape has called up 33 players to begin preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
According to a statement published by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), all the players shortlisted are home-based, and it will be the team’s first camp of the year after an impressive 2022.
Mwape stated that his reason for inviting a group of all home-based players is to provide him with an opportunity to assemble the best from their league while he continues to monitor the foreign-based ones.
The Copper Queens will be in the training camp from January 22-28, as they look to be involved in the FIFA international window in February.
Zaragoza CFF striker Hellen Mubanga is the only foreign-based player in the squad and she will be making her return to the side after being out for 15 months with a knee injury.
Mubanga missed the remainder of the 2021–22 season due to a torn meniscus in her right knee, and she has not featured for both club and country since the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Zambia defeated African giants the Super Falcons 1-0 in the third-place match to win the bronze medal at the 2022 Women’s Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Copper Queens will be one of the debutants at this year’s Women’s World Cup and have not played any games since back-to-back friendly losses to Colombia in November 2021.
The 2023 women’s World Cup will be held in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20, with WAFCON champions Banyana Banyana of South Africa, Morocco and Nigeria as other African representatives.
FULL LIST OF INVITED PLAYERS
GOALKEEPERS: Leticia Lungu (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Catherine Musonda (INDENI Roses), Eunice Sakala (Nkwazi Queens), Mwila Chishala Mufunte (Police Doves), Loveness Tonge (Prison Leopards)
DEFENDERS: Lushomo Mweemba, Agness Musesa, Esther Siamfuko (all Green Buffaloes), Pauline Zulu, Misozi Musonda (both Elite Ladies), Vast Phiri (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Esther Banda (BUSA), Sandra Mushota (Nchanga Queens), Judith Soko (YASA), Jackline Nkole (INDENI Roses)
MIDFIELDERS: Norin Betani (INDENI Roses), Evarine Susan Katongo (ZISD Women), Mary Wilombe, Prisca Chilufya, Susan Banda, Mary Mambwe (All Red Arrows), Avell Chitundu (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Maweta Chilenga (Green Buffaloes), Rhoda Chileshe (INDENI Roses)
STRIKERS: Xiomara Mapepa (Elite Ladies), Natasha Nanyangwe, Jessy Zulu (both Green Buffaloes), Ochumba Oseke Lubanji (Red Arrows), Eneless Phiri (Nkwazi Queens), Regina Chanda (ZANACO Ladies), Marjory Mahongo Luwaya (Play It Forward), Square Maiwase (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Hellen Mubanga (Zaragoza-Spain)
