Copper Queens defender Esther Siamfuko has challenged younger players who have been called to the squad to seize the opportunity and prove themselves ahead of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON).

Zambia has kick-started its preparations for the WAfCON with a local camp ahead of two international friendly matches against South Africa and Botswana. The Copper Queens will take on Banyana Banyana on May 31 before facing Botswana four days later.

Foreign-based players are expected to join the squad after the international window opens on May 26. However, senior players such as Lushomo Mweemba, Martha Tembo, and Margret Belemu were already in attendance.

Coach Nora Hauptle, who was also absent from today’s training session, is expected to be in the country has integrated several players from the junior teams as she looks to regenerate the team ahead of the continental event.

“To me, Zambia is for everyone… It is not for adults; it is not for young ones. Everyone who gets that chance to get to the national team, they have to prove that they deserve to be here… We are all working towards the same goal,” Siamfuko said after the team’s training at the Imboela stadium on Tuesday morning.

We are looking forward to winning WAFCON- Maweta

And midfielder Maweta Chilenga described the upcoming games as an important step in Zambia’s quest to lift the 2025 title.

 “We are going to face one of the biggest teams in Africa. They [South Africa] won the championship, so it is going to give us a big boost going into the WAfCON.

“Looking at the previous WAfCON, we came out third, so we are looking forward to winning the tournament this year. It has been our goal since the start of the camp,” said Chilenga.

In 2022, Zambia minted bronze and have since set their sights on a Gold Medal.   

Meanwhile, having suffered career-threatening injuries after the 2022 edition, midfielder Natasha Nanyangwe is thankful that she has recovered and is on course to play in her second WAfCON.  

“The injury made me lose a lot of hope, but after recovering and coming back to the team it feels good and I thank God for that because it wouldn’t have been possible without him. He is the only one who has made me come back and one step ahead to the WAfCON,” she said.

The WAfCON will be played between July 5 and 26 in Morocco. Zambia is in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, Senegal, and the DRC