Banda stated in an interview with FAZ media that playing in the World Cup requires players to be positive because it is the biggest stage in women’s football.
She has called for adequate preparations in the run-up to the showpiece, which Australia and New Zealand will co-host from July 20th to August 20th, 2023, and has also applauded the competitiveness of the squad currently in Turkey.
“We have to prepare adequately because those (World Cup opponents) are big games. We don’t have to be relaxed,” she said. “Each game and preparation we are given, we have to take them seriously.
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Banda who missed the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, added that the Copper Queens will not underestimate their World Cup opponents and warned her teammates against complacency.
“These are the games (the Turkish Women’s Cup) that will determine how far we are going with preparations for the World Cup and how far we are going (in the World Cup).”
“They are very strong teams and we are not underrating any team. We need to go there with full force and the mentality of winning,” said Banda.
Zambia is in Group C, alongside Spain, Japan, and Costa Rica, and Banda expects a “huge task” ahead.
“It’s a huge task, but the mentality of being a player, we need to be positive every time.” “The games there will be very tough; we need to be strong mentally and physically.”
The Copper Queens are currently in Alanya, Turkey, participating in the Turkish Women’s Cup.
On Wednesday, they defeated North Macedonia 1-0 to begin their competitive campaign.
Banda will play in the Copper Queens’ second match of the tournament, against Slovenia, after missing the first.
