The Zambia Women’s National Soccer Team will be aiming to bounce back from the opening Dutch defeat in a Group F fixture at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics when they face China at Miyagi stadium on Saturday.

Bruce Mwape’s lasses – making their debut appearance at the Olympics, lost 10-3 to the fourth ranked team in the world will be facing a China side that got a 5-0 thrashing from Brazil on Wednesday.

Supersport will beam the match live from 10:00 hours CAT. In the other Group F match, leaders Netherlands will entertain Brazil at 13:00 hours CAT.

The Copper Queens squad has been bolstered by the arrival of the final two pieces in the puzzle that speedster Rachael Kundananji and goalkeeper Musole N’gambo while defender Martha Tembo returns from suspension received in the final qualification match against Cameroon.

With the defence having been one of the weak links Tembo is expected to improve cover alongside Lushomo Mweemba, Anita Mulenga, Esther Siamfuko, Fikile Khosa, and Margaret Belemu who are all expected to compete for a starting place and thwart the threat posed by Xin, Shanshan and Siwen.

In midfield, the Kazakhstan based Kundananji who can also be deployed as a point person is expected to start against China alongside Ireen Lungu, Mary Wilombe and Avell Chitundu, while Hellen Chanda, Evarine Katongo are some of the players in Mwape’s squad ready to make their debut.

Skipper Barbara Banda, who made history by becoming the first African female footballer to score a hat-trick at the Olympics, will be raring to go, and so is Grace Chanda, Hellen Mubanga and Ochumba Oseke Lubanji upfront.

Honduras referee Melissa Borjas will take charge of the game to be assisted by her countrymate Shirley Perello and Chantal Boudreau of Canada. Abdulkadir Btgen is the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

Soka25east.com