The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has secured a friendly match for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup-bound Copper Queens to be played at the National Heroes Stadium.
FAZ president Andrew Kamanga announced on Monday morning in his weekly column dubbed ‘President’s Corner’ that “we have organised a send-off match at National Heroes Stadium on June 11 before they trek to Germany for an international camp. The Copper Queens will play Tanzania at home before flying out.”
This will be the first time the Copper Queens will play at the 60,000-seat stadium.
They have also not played at home since qualifying for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in 2022 when they hosted Botswana in a friendly match.
Since then, they have played 13 matches, including five games in 2023, all away from home.
Copper Queens could break attendance record in Africa
With women’s football becoming more popular in Zambia, the country could set a new African attendance record if the National Heroes Stadium will be filled to capacity.
The semifinal match between Morocco and Nigeria at the 2022 WAFCON set a new record in African women’s football history. It drew 45,562 spectators to Rabat’s Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex.
That record was later broken in the same tournament when the final between Morocco and South Africa attracted 51,000 fans to the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Should the Copper Queens fill up the 60,000-capacity stadium, they will set a new record in Africa.
Meanwhile, FAZ says tickets for the match will soon go on sale.
The Copper Queens will on June 22nd also face Ireland in Dublin before playing Switzerland on June 30 in Zurich.
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They will conclude their European camp with a game against two-time world champions Germany in Furth on July 7.
Zambia will be making their debut at the World Cup which is set be co-hosted by Australia and Newzealand. The tournament will kick off from July 20th to August 20th, 2023.
The Copper Queens are in Group C alongside Spain, Japan, and Costa Rica. They will kick off their campaign on the 22nd of July against Japan.
