The Copper Queens have continued to fine-tune their preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023. They trained in the morning at Rototuna’s Korikori Park on Tuesday.
Zambia is in Group C, which also includes Spain, Japan, and Costa Rica. They will make their debut against Japan this Saturday at the FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand.
Meanwhile, defender Margret Belemu has stated that the team has prepared adequately and is ready for their first match.
“Am very excited about the tournament and we ready for it as a team and we are very much ready for the tournament,” she told FAZ Media. “We have played enough friendlies to prepare ourselves…..And we have done well, in each and every game we played we were improving.”
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“We are not underpressure”- Belemu
Belemu added that the team is not under pressure but will take each game as it comes.
“We don’t have the pressure that teams are looking at us as underdogs. All we are looking at as Copper Queens is to compete at the World Cup. We are not here for names.”
On playing Japan, the 2011 World Champions, Belemu has urged her teammates to ensure they grab maximum points on Saturday.
“Always at the tournament, it’s very important to pick three points in the first game to give us more motivation. It will be very tough because Japan has got good quality players all we need to do as a team is be focused, determined, and remain disciplined in our playing. I will push more to bring a lot of impact at the back,” noted the former red arrows player.”
