LUSAKA – Copper Queens striker Noria Sosala says the team has set a target of qualifying to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup when they compete at the Morocco 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Zambia are in Group B alongside Cameroon, Tunisia and Togo at the Women’s AFCON that gets underway in Morocco from July 2-23 next month.
“Group B is tough but we have to go with the target of winning all group games against our opponents. We have played Cameroon before and won, so everything is possible if we work hard as a team,” Sosala said.
“We have to continue getting good results because having been at the Olympics, the nation expects us to do better at the Women’s Africa Cup. It’s not easy but our target is to play well at the tournament and qualify to the World Cup for the first time.”
The Indeni Roses striker said she was impressed with the performance of young players in training and urged them to aim high if the team was to achieve the World Cup target.
“My message to the young players in camp is not to feel intimidated. They are talented players and they can count on me and other senior players to guide them and advise them to polish their skills so that the national team can conquer the continent,” Sosala said.
The top four finishers in Morocco will qualify directly for the World Cup to be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2023, while two additional teams will progress to the intercontinental play-offs.
SHEPOLOPOLO ZAMBIA AWCON FULL SQUAD:
GOALKEEPERS:
Hazel Nali (Fatih Vatan Spor-Turkey), Leticia Lungu (Zesco Ndola Girls), Catherine Musonda (Indeni Roses), Eunice Sakala (Nkwazi Queens), Agness Banda (National Assembly)
DEFENDERS:
Esther Banda (BUSA), Esther Siamfuko (Queens Academy), Margaret Belemu (Shanghai Shengli-China), Bertha Imponene (Nkwazi Queens), Vast Phiri (Zesco Ndola Girls), Martha Tembo, Lushomo Mweemba, Anita Mulenga (all Green Buffaloes), Pauline Zulu (Lusaka Dynamos Ladies), Judith Soko (YASA Girls)
MIDFIELDERS:
Misozi Zulu (Hakkariguku Spor FC -Turkey), Ireen Lungu (Green Buffaloes), Mary Wilombe (Red Arrows), Evarine Susan Katongo (ZISD Girls), Avell Chitundu (Zesco Ndola Girls), Rhoda Chileshe, Norin Betani (both Indeni Roses), Maweta Chilenga (BUSA)
STRIKERS:
Rachael Kundananji (SD Eibar-Spain), Barbara Banda (Shanghai Shengli-China), Xiomala Mapepa (Lusaka Dynamos Ladies), Grace Chanda (BIIK Kazygurt-Kazakhstan), Ochumba Oseke Lubanji (Red Arrows), Eneless Phiri (Police Doves), Jessy Zulu (Pataaki FC), Noria Sosala (Indeni Roses), Natasha Nanyangwe (Green Buffaloes)
- Football Association of Zambia
