Copper Queens coach Bruce Mwape has announced his final squad for the 2024 Paris Olympics, which kicks off on July 25.
The 22-member squad is led by Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda and Bay FC’s Racheal Kundananji, who recently broke the record for the most expensive transfers in women’s football history.
Notable players who have been left out include Magret Belemu, Ireen Lungu, and Evarine Katongo.
Diana Banda of the Green Buffaloes and Esther Muchinga of the Zanaco Ladies are the latest additions.
Bruce Mwape explains the exclusions
On Evarine Katongo:
Katongo got injured during training.
Bruce Mwape
On Margret Belemu:
For Belemu, the criteria that we used was just competition. In that position we had about three players. I’m sure you have heard the names she was competing with [Esther] Siamfuko, Diana [Banda] and of course herself. So out of the three, we picked two and those are the ones that showed that they’re ready to play at the Olympic tournament. The other thing may be that, I can say is that she also went for military training from there, she’s slightly off. I cannot say she cannot play. But those two showed that they’re better than her at the moment.
Bruce Mwape
On Ireen Lungu:
In midfield, we’ve got a good number of our players who can play in the two positions or even on the flanks, like the last game that we played against Morocco. Morocco is a good side, but we were able to contain them. We actually used Grace [Chanda] as a holding together with Irene[Lungu], but Irene couldn’t last or play according to our plan. So that’s why this time we decided to make a change.
Bruce Mwape
Zambia will compete in the Olympic tournament for the second time after solely representing the continent at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
They are in Group B with Germany, the United States, and Australia.
| Group A | Group B | Group C |
| France | USWNT | Spain |
| Colombia | Germany | Japan |
| Canada | Australia | Brazil, |
| New Zealand | Zambia | Nigeria |
Mwape’s lasses are expected to travel to Europe over the weekend for an international camp.
On July 25, the Copper Queens will face the United States, the record world champions, in their opening match at the tournament.
READ MORE: Bruce Mwape explains why he is not intimidated by Olympic opponents
