The Copper Queens will commence preparations for Round Two of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic qualifiers against Uganda with assistant coach Charles Haalubono summoning 33 local players for duty.
Haalubono has drafted a number of stars that were part of the 2026 WAFCON in Morocco and some graduates from the junior ranks as Zambia hopes to regenerate itself ahead of forthcoming assignments.
The local squad includes red-hot Zesco Ndola Girls forward Eneless Phiri, back-at-home Evarine Katongo and 15-year-old Elite Ladies shot stopper Winfridah Mutale. Foreign based players will join preparations when the FIFA window opens on
Zambia will be away to Uganda on 8 October before hosting the Crested Cranes a week later at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. Winner over two legs will qualify to the third round in a race that will involve five rounds of qualification before clinching the coveted Olympic ticket.
Zambia has been to back-to-back Olympics starting with the 2020 Tokyo Games (played in 2021) where Barbra Banda famously netted two hat-tricks to launch herself straight into Olympic folklore.
FULL LOCAL SQUAD
(GOALKEEPERS); Chishala Mufunte (Green Buffaloes), Catherine Musonda (Red Arrows), Annie Namonje (Zesco Ndola Girls), Loveness Tonge (Green Eagles), Winfridah Mutale (Elite Ladies).
(DEFENDERS); Saliyah Mwanza, Matildah Mukunda (both Elite Ladies), Memory Nthala, Esther Siamfuko, Margaret Gondwe, Rachael Nachula (all Green Buffaloes), Lweendo Hanongo (Driven Queens), Blessings Maluba (Nchanga Rangers), Jackline Chomba, Pauline Zulu (both Zesco Ndola Girls), Justina Zulu, Thelma Chellah (both Zanaco Ladies), Natasha Nkaka (Green Eagles).
(MIDFIELDERS); Evarine Katongo, Natasha Nanyangwe (Green Buffaloes), Zangose Zulu, Regina Chanda (both Zanaco Ladies), Rhodah Chileshe (Indeni Roses), Avell Chitundu (Zesco Ndola Girls).
(STRIKERS); Maweta Chilenga, Agness Phiri (both Green Buffaloes), Eneless Phiri, Penelope Mulubwa, Charity Mubanga (all Zesco Ndola Girls), Mary Mambwe (Red Arrows), Ngosa Chabwe (Indeni Roses), Ivy Nambeye (Nchanga Rangers), Theresa Nayame (Kansanshi Queens).