Zambia Women’s National Team head coach, Bruce Mwape, is considering lineup changes for the second friendly match against the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco as part of preparations for the 2023 COSAFA Women’s Championship. The Copper Queens secured a 2-0 victory in the first match, with skipper Barbra Banda netting a brace.
Mwape aims to give opportunities to locally based players who will participate in the upcoming COSAFA Women’s Championship in South Africa next month. He plans to introduce new faces into the squad to assess their capabilities and areas for improvement.
The coach confirmed that only locally based players would represent Zambia in the COSAFA tournament, emphasizing the importance of assessing these players ahead of the regional competition. Mwape recognizes the significance of the COSAFA Championship in preparing for the Olympic qualifiers and the WAFCON.
Zambia is placed in Group B for the COSAFA Women’s Championship, alongside Angola, Mozambique, and Comoros. Zambia and Angola will also face off in the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2024 qualifiers.
Mwape acknowledges the threat posed by Angola and emphasizes the need to have a well-executed plan for both COSAFA and WAFCON qualifiers. He particularly focuses on strengthening the striking force and ensuring that the defense remains solid.
The second international friendly against Morocco is scheduled for Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat on September 26, 2023, at 20:00 CAT. These matches serve as crucial preparation for the upcoming tournaments, including the 2023 COSAFA Women’s Championship, the 2024 Paris Olympic Qualifiers, and the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2024 qualifiers.
