The Copper Queens will kickstart the final lap of preparations for the Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a local camp that has seen coach Nora Häuptle summon 28 players for a local camp.
Häuptle has named some foreign based players whose leagues are on recess for the local camp while the rest will join in the final stages of preparations.
With the Copper Queens scheduled to play WAFCON bound Algeria in back-to-back friendly matches next month, prior to jetting out to Morocco, the local camp will present a final audition for players who hope to impress the technical bench before the final squad is named.
Häuptle has recalled midfielder Hellen Chanda and fit-again goal machine Ivy Nambeye who is on the books of Nchanga Queens.
Other notable calls ups are striker Penelope Mulubwa, Eneless Phiri who has missed out on the consecutive FIFA window engagements while 14-year old Winfridah Mutale is among the goalkeepers summoned for national duty.
Zambia is in Group C alongside defending champions Nigeria, Egypt and Malawi with top two teams making it out of the group. The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 will run from July 25-August 16.
Top four teams at the WAFCON will qualify to the Brazil 2027 FIFA World Cup that will be staged in July/August. Some foreign based players have not been summoned for the local camp due to club engagements but will join at a later stage.
PROVISIONAL SQUAD
(GOALKEEPERS); Hazel Nali (Zesco Ndola Girls), Chishala Mufunte (Green Buffaloes), Catherine Musonda (Red Arrows), Winfridah Mutale (Elite Ladies), Eunice Sakala (Indeni Roses).
(DEFENDERS); Margaret Belemu (Red Arrows), Thelma Chellah (Zanaco Ladies), Rhodah Chileshe (Indeni Roses), Margaret Gondwe, Rachael Nachula, Memory Nthala (all Green Buffaloes), Blessing Maluba (Nchanga Rangers Queens), Siomala Mapepa (Altaraji Club-Saudi Arabia), Matildah Mukunda, Saliyah Mwanza (both Elite Ladies), Lushomo Mweemba, Martha Tembo (both Hakkarigucu Spor-Turkey).
(MIDFIELDERS); Evarine Katongo (Rana’ana Women FC-Israel), Natasha Nanyangwe (Green Buffaloes), Blessings Zulu (Zanaco Ladies), Hellen Chanda (Eastern Flames-Saudi Arabia).
(STRIKERS); Ngosa Chabwe (Indeni Roses), Eneless Phiri, Penelope Mulubwa, Mercy Chipasula, Avell Chitundu (all Zesco Ndola Girls), Ivy Nambeye (Nchanga Rangers Queens), Theresa Nayame (Kansanshi Queens).
