Foreign-Based Players Join Copper Queens Camp for Olympic Quest
In preparation for the crucial final round qualifier matches against Morocco for the Paris 2024 Olympics, foreign-based players have begun arriving at the Copper Queens’ camp in Ndola.
Leading the contingent is skipper Barbra Banda, whose arrival on Sunday evening was followed by immediate integration into training sessions with the team. Banda’s experience and leadership will be pivotal as the team gears up to face the formidable challenge posed by the Atlas Lionesses.
Joining Banda are Kazakhstan-based duo Ireen Lungu and Martha Tembo, along with Rachel Nachula, who is based in Israel. Their presence further bolsters the squad’s depth and talent, adding valuable international experience to the team dynamic. Additionally, Rachel Kundananji, hailed as the most expensive female football player in history, is expected to join the camp within the next 48 hours, completing the foreign-based contingent.
The locally-based players had already reported to camp a week prior in Ndola, demonstrating their commitment to the national team’s cause.
Under the guidance of Coach Bruce Mwape, who earlier announced a 34-member squad for the qualifiers, the Copper Queens are diligently preparing for the upcoming matches. The team is set to host the Atlas Lionesses on Friday, 5th April 2024, before traveling for the away leg on 9th April. The stakes are high, as the overall winner over two legs will secure one of the two available spots for African nations at the Olympics.
The competition promises to be intense, with the other Olympic slot to be determined by the outcome of the clash between Nigeria and South Africa. With the combined talent of both local and foreign-based players, the Copper Queens are poised to represent Zambia with determination and pride on the global stage.
