The Zambia Women’s National Team is likely to head into the opening match of the FIFA Series tournament against Canada without some of their key players who are yet to report for camp, Bolanews has learned.
Some key players, including Captain Babra Banda, Grace Chanda, Prisca Chilufya, and Ireen Lungu, have delayed joining camp due to travel arrangement challenges.
The local batch of players also reportedly arrived in Brazil on Friday morning, just 24 hours before their opening match.
The players include Ngosa Chabwe, Natasha Nayangwe, Maweta Chilenga, Esther Muchinga, Memory Nthala, Mary Mambwe, and Agness Phiri.
With head coach Nora Häuptle also absent, assistant coach Charles Haalubono is expected to rely on the locally based players for the opening match as they await the arrival of the foreign-based contingent.
“The last batch of local players left Lusaka yesterday at 06:00hrs. They are still in transit and arrived in Brazil this morning, but they are yet to reach the city that is hosting the team. As for the foreign-based players, they still haven’t arrived yet, as they experienced some challenges with their visas from their different bases. Hopefully they will arrive before the opening match on Saturday,” said the source.
FAZ provides updates
In a statement, FAZ said, “United States of America based duo of skipper Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride) and Prisca Chilufya (Angel City) will fly straight from their base after having overcome visa glitches.”
The association also disclosed that “The Turkey domiciled duo of Lushomo Mweemba, Martha Tembo (both Hakkarigucu) and Mexico based Grace Chanda (Queretaro) had to fly into Lusaka for visa formalities after attempts to do it from their bases failed.”
Meanwhile, “Rachael Kundananji (Bay FC), Avell Chitundu, Eneless Phiri (both Zesco Ndola Girls), Xiomara Mapepa (Altaraji) were ruled due to injuries while Evarine Katongo could not leave Israel owing to the security situation in that country.”
Zambia will face Canada on Saturday at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá in their opening match.
The Copper Queens will then meet hosts Brazil on Tuesday before concluding their campaign against Korea on April 18.
