Zambia’s preparations for their 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup opener has suffered yet another blow after striker Grace Chanda was ruled out due to an unnamed illness.
The Copper Queens are due to kick off their Group C campaign against Japan on Saturday but team doctor Faith Chibeza confirmed on Friday that the Madrid CFF attacker will not take part in the competition.
“Grace Chanda has taken ill, and unfortunately her illness has taken her out of the tournament,” Chibeza told FAZ media in a video shared on their social media pages, adding: “We have done everything that we can to help her, she is receiving all the attention and the help that she needs and she will get well as time goes by but she won’t be able to take part in the competition.”
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Chanda, who did not make the match day squad for Zambia’s famous 3-2 victory against Germany in a friendly, has further taken to her social media pages to confirm she will not be part of the team in the competition that is being co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.
“Hello everyone, it is with a lot of pain and sadness that I am very sorry to announce to you all that I will not be playing at the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup,” wrote Chanda, adding: “Back when I was a kid, I dreamt of playing football at the highest level. I grew up in a supportive family that gave me all the support I needed, a family that did not hesitate to allow me to go for trials in Lusaka or any other place they needed to see my football skills.
“God allowing, I was lucky to have been part of the Zambia national U17 team that played at the 2014 U17 World Cup in Costa Rica. It was there when I scored one of the major goals in my career, meeting a Barbra Banda cross to score the opening goal in the 2-1 win over Costa Rica. I remember this day like no other.”
She added: “The last few days have been very difficult for me, having to be admitted to the hospital and missing out on preparing for the tournament I dreamt of playing but health comes first before anything. I would like to thank the medical team in New Zealand and Zambia, who have supported me throughout this very difficult period. I am sharing this with everyone because I believe as vice-captain, I have a duty to support the team even through the pain.
“My illness at the moment cannot allow me to play any further part in this tournament. This is very painful but I guess this is part of human life and I have to turn my focus on recovering and cheering the team all the way.”
Zambia coach Bruce Mwape has replaced Chanda with Elite Ladies’ Comfort Selemani, who was on standby. Her withdrawal comes just a few days after goalkeeper Hazel Nali, was ruled out after suffering laxity in the Medial Collateral Ligament and a complete tear of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) during a training session.