The Copper Queens as they are popularly called, will be making their debut at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and will be going up against Spain, Costa Rica and Japan in Group C.
At Australia/New Zealand 2023, Zambia will make history as first landlocked African nation to play in a men’s or women’s World Cup.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED
Currently ranked 77th in the world and 9th in Africa, the Coach Bruce Mwape-led Zambia Women’s National Team earned their World Cup qualification by defeating Senegal on penalties to reach the semi-finals at the 2022 Women’s Cup of Nations. They would go on to claim third place in the continental tournament with a notable victory over Nigeria.
The team is captained by 23 year-old Barbra Banda who at the 2020 Olympics became the first female player in Olympics history to score back-to-back hat tricks and the first to score two hat tricks in one tournament. She is one of the young prospects to watch out for at this year’s World Cup.
Zambia take on Japan in their opening game on Saturday, July 22.
FRIENDLY MATCHES PLAYED SINCE THE START OF 2023
15/02/23: North Macedonia 0 – 1 Zambia
18/02/23: Zambia 0 – 1 Slovenia
21/02/23: Uzbekistan 0 – 4 Zambia
07/04/23: Korea Republic 5 – 2 Zambia
11/04/23: Korea Republic 5 – 0 Zambia
11/06/23: Zambia 1 – 0 Tanzania
22/06/23: Republic of Ireland 3 – 2 Zambia
30/06/23: Switzerland 3 – 3 Zambia
07/07/23: Germany 2 – 3 Zambia
FULL SQUAD LIST
* Zambia announced on July 12 that 1st choice goalkeeper Hazel Nali, whose name already appeared on the FIFA Women’s World Cup squad list has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. “A preliminary examination was done in Germany which led to the player missing the friendly match with an MRI done in New Zealand ruling out the player for the rest of the tournament. Our medics in liaison with the FIFA Medical Committee have informed us that Nali suffered laxity in the Medial Collateral Ligament and a complete tear of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL),” says FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga.
You can also watch our video of the Team’s profile here