Zambia assistant coach Florence Mwila has explained why their 2023 Fifa Women’s Cup opening fixture against Japan will be a tricky affair.

The Copper Queens are in Group C alongside Spain, Japan, and Costa Rica and will make their debut against Japan at the FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand on Saturday.

Ahead of the fixture, Mwila said: “The first game is always tricky because it is a decider. How you start the tournament determines how you are going to end it,” adding: “I think we are ready as a team. I think the Germany friendly was a morale booster to the team to push hard and know that everything is possible.”

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She added: “We cannot relax and say we beat Germany (in Furth). That was just a friendly match, we need to refocus and look at how we are able to beat Japan because definitely, their style of play will be different from what Germany had displayed.”

On whether the Copper Queens, who will be making their debut in the competition are intimidated heading into the fixture, Mwila said: “Nothing really intimidates the Copper Queens but we know that they play a fast game. Height wise we are almost the same but they play quick football so we need to know how to close those spaces that they might want to use to penetrate to go and score.”

She continued: “I am seeing us going to the end of the tournament. It’s never about being debutants, it’s how much you put in and how much you believe in what you are doing as a team. We have put in a lot; we thank the government and the Football Association of Zambia for the quality international friendlies that we have had. I think for the first time, a team has had so many friendly matches.”

After the Japan game on Saturday, the Copper Queens will take on Spain on July 26 before wrapping up their Group C matches against Costa Rica five days later.