Zesco Ndola Girls Football Club have confirmed the signing of Copper Queens goalkeeper Hazel Natasha Nali on a two-year loan deal from Green Buffaloes, marking a major step in her return to competitive football after a prolonged absence due to injury.
The 27-year-old shot-stopper’s highly anticipated return comes after a tumultuous year that saw a proposed move to Greek side OFI Crete fall through under unclear circumstances in July 2023, despite her having already been unveiled by the club.
Back After ACL Injury
Nali hasn’t featured in a competitive match since sustaining a devastating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear and medial collateral ligament injury just days before the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The injury forced her out of the global showpiece and brought her playing career to a temporary standstill.
She had just ended her stint with Turkish club Fatih Vatan Spor Kulübü, and the failed move to Greece added more uncertainty to her future. Now fully rehabilitated and officially unveiled by Zesco Ndola Girls, Nali will be targeting a return to the top of her game with a club that will participate in the COSAFA Club Champions League, which also serves as the qualifying pathway to the 2025/26 CAF Women’s Champions League.
Nali: “I’m Finally Back”
Expressing her joy on social media, Nali described the move as a fresh start after years of personal and professional challenges.
“I’m over the moon to announce that I’ve joined Zesco Ndola Girls Football Club. After years away from the pitch due to injury – years that were devastating, breaking, and emotional – I’m finally back. Thanks to Zesco Ndola Girls Football Club for this opportunity.”
Road to Copper Queens Return?
The goalkeeper’s comeback has also reignited conversations about her potential return to the Zambian national team, especially after goalkeeping mistakes proved costly for the Copper Queens at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Despite public demand, head coach Nora Hauptle has remained firm that Nali was not ready for selection during WAFCON due to a lack of club training and match fitness.
“Hazel is a fantastic goalkeeper. She was at this tournament for Zambia. She’s already over a year out of play. So she did not train in any club,” Hauptle explained in Morocco.
“But it’s never possible to call up a player who was more than a year out of the game and even in training practice.”
Experienced and Battle-Tested
Nali brings a wealth of international experience. She has represented Zambia at three WAFCON tournaments (2014, 2018, and 2022) and was instrumental in helping the country qualify for its first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 with her unforgettable penalty heroics.
Now back with a top club and entering a vital period of preparation, Nali will be working toward regaining full match fitness and form in time for Zambia’s upcoming 2026 WAFCON qualifiers against Namibia set for October.
Conclusion
Hazel Nali’s move to Zesco Ndola Girls is not just a club transfer—it marks the beginning of a new chapter in her career. After enduring injury setbacks, missed opportunities, and national team absence, she now has a platform to reclaim her status as Zambia’s premier goalkeeper. All eyes will be on her progress in the coming months as the race to WAFCON 2026 begins.
