Copper Queens attacker, Grace Chanda who was ruled out of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup due to illness is still admitted to a local hospital in New Zealand.
Team doctor Faith Chibeza, announced before the World Cup started that the 26-year-old Madrid CFF attacker required medical attention and was unable to participate in the tournament.
“Grace Chanda has taken ill, and unfortunately her illness has taken her out of the tournament,” said Chibeza.
On Wednesday, Elias Munshya, the ambassador of Zambia to New Zealand and Australia, took to Twitter to confirm that Chanda and the injured goalkeeper, Hazel Nali, will remain in New Zealand for medical treatment.
“We met with Ms. Grace Chanda and Ms. Hazel Nali. Both athletes will remain in New Zealand for medical treatment and will be staying there for a few more days. The rest of the team and FAZ delegation has left for Zambia,” wrote Munshya on Twitter.
“She has to stay isolated” – BolaNews told
Meanwhile, Bolanews has been informed that Chanda is currently in isolation at a hospital in New Zealand. Her illness has not been disclosed for privacy reasons.
A source close to the player revealed that “because of her sickness she has to stay isolated for a period of time.”
It’s also not known how long she will take to fully recover from her illness and return to the pitch.
During the 2022 WAFCON, Chanda stepped up as the captain for the Copper Queens in the absence of Barbra Banda. Her efforts were instrumental in securing the team’s qualification for the FIFA World Cup.
The former Zesco player scored three goals to emerge as her team’s top scorer in that competition.
READ MORE: “I will be back,” declares Grace Chanda.
Chanda was later voted the runner-up for the 2022 CAF Women’s Footballer of the Year Award, which was won by Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria.
She has scored three goals in 11 starts out of 26 games for Madrid CFF in the Spanish Women’s League.
Chanda joined the team on a two-year deal at the start of last season from BIIK Kazgurt.
