Fan favourite and budding forward Eneless Phiri has expressed her commitment to improving her performance for the national team after impressing in her first two matches for the Copper Queens.
Phiri burst onto the international scene following her electric performances in the Zambian Women’s Super League with ZESCO Ndola Girls FC, before shining at the 2025 CAF COSAFA Women’s Champions League, where she was named best player of the tournament after helping ZESCO reach the final, which they unfortunately lost 4-3 on penalties to Gaborone United following a 1-1 draw.
Her performances at the COSAFA earned her a place in Copper Queens coach Nora Hauptle’s squad for the back-to-back 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers against Namibia. She provided an assist in the 3-4 first leg, which she started.
In the second leg at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, she scored her debut goal in the 3-0 win, securing the Copper Queens a place at next year’s WAFCON.
“Coach Nora told us to continue working hard as we returned to the club. She said she was happy with my performances and encouraged me to keep improving even at my club,” Phiri told BolaNews in an exclusive interview on Thursday in her native Nyanja language.
“I really feel proud to be on the national team. I have been following the instructions of my coaches and I think that’s why I have been playing well.”
Phiri is relishing the opportunity to make her debut at WAFCON. “I just need to work extra hard. If we work hard here in training, things will be easy at the tournament. We need everyone to work hard and make things easy.”
The 17-year-old also acknowledged the immense competition within the Copper Queens. “Competition is high; for you to be selected, you really need to work hard, but I am doing my best to improve every day.”
Phiri is part of the 26-member squad that will compete in the three-nation friendly tournament alongside hosts Malawi and Zimbabwe from November 28 to December.
She will be hoping to put up more impressive performances to earn a spot in the WAFCON squad, which will take place in Morocco next year.
