Zambia Women’s National Team coach Bruce Mwape has named a 33-player provisional squad for the 2022 HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship that will be held in South Africa from August 31-September 11.

Skipper Barbara Banda will lead the Copper Queens supported by 19 players who starred at the 2022 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco where the team scored a double by qualifying for the FIFA Women’s Cup and minting a WAFCON bronze.

Nigeria-based midfielder Natasha Witika has also received a call-up from Mwape, and so has Lusaka Dynamos Women Football Club goalkeeper Chitete Munsaka, who is first-choice goalkeeper for the Zambia U17 Women’s National Team.

The Copper Queens have been placed in Group B and will begin their campaign against Namibia on 1 September at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Gqeberha before the penultimate group match against Lesotho on 4 September before wrapping up their Group engagement against Eswatini two days later.

FULL-SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS:

Eunice Sakala (Nkwazi Queens), Letisha Lungu (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Agness Banda (National Assembly), Mary Nanyinza, Catherine Musonda (both Indeni Roses), Chitete Munsaka (Lusaka Dynamos Women FC)

DEFENDERS:

Vast Phiri (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Esther Banda (BUSA), Esther Siamfuko (Queens Academy), Bertha Imponene (Nkwazi Queens), Agness Musesa, Lushomo Mweemba, Anita Mulenga, Martha Tembo (all Green Buffaloes), Judith Soko (YASA), Pauline Zulu (Lusaka Dynamos Women FC), Margaret Belemu (Shanghai Shengli-China),

MIDFIELDERS:

Ireen Lungu (Green Buffaloes), Mary Wilombe (Red Arrows), Evarine Susan Katongo (ZISD Women), Natasha Witika (Bayelsa Queens-Nigeria), Avell Chitundu (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Maweta Chilenga (BUSA), Norin Betani (Indeni Roses), Misozi Zulu (Hakkariguku Spor FC -Turkey)

STRIKERS:

Natasha Nanyangwe (Green Buffaloes), Ochumba Oseke Lubanji (Red Arrows), Elizabeth Mwale (ZISD Women), Eneless Phiri (Police Doves), Jessy Zulu (Pataaki), Noria Sosala (Indeni Roses), Barbara Banda (Shanghai Shengli-China), Lillian Mwaba (Queens Academy)

Soka25east.com