By MICHAEL MIYOBA
FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga says the Copper Queens quarter final clash with Senegal will be the defining moment as it will determine Zambia’s fate in the 2023 Women’s World Cup qualifying race.
Kamanga, who congratulated the Copper Queens for their historical progress to the quarter finals of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after topping Group B with seven points, two points ahead of Cameroon and four points ahead of Tunisia said the game against Senegal will be a huge test for the Copper Queens who eliminated Togo with a 4-1 bashing in the final group game played on Saturday.
Kamanga hailed the players who have stepped up to take the team to the quarter finals in the absence of key players such as Barbra Banda, Rachel Kumdananji and Rachel Nachula who were suspended from competing at the tournament due to “medical reasons.”
The FAZ chief noted the need for Zambians to rally behind the girls as they seek to break the jinx of failing to qualify for the Women’s World Cup.
“The Wednesday game will be a defining moment for the Copper Queens. It will be a game that promises to take the squad into uncharted waters with FIFA World Cup qualification on the horizon.
“Naturally, it will be a huge test for the team, but we are continuously conversing with the team about the significance of the mission ahead,” Kamanga said.
“We urge the public to rally behind the team, including the ineligible players whose crusade we are pursuing on the side-lines of the WAFCON,” he said.
Kamanga said the team’s success at the ongoing WAFCON in Cameroon would open doors for the growth of women’s football and the women’s league which is in its infancy and in need of a sponsor.
“The women’s game has been elevated to a level where the girls have been able to be accommodated in conditions at par with the men and receive remuneration for their participation in football.
“We now have a fully-fledged league that despite being in its infancy and experiencing teething problems gives us impetus to believe that we have somewhere to start from. The search for a sponsor is on and we have no doubt that with the women’s game making a continental statement at the WAFCON, it will open more doors for our game,” Kamanga said.
“It is these small yet significant steps that has helped spark the women football revolution in our country. Additionally, the integrity of delivering on promises made to the team has also been critical in spurring the ladies into this tournament.”
Meanwhile, Kamanga is confident that the men’s national soccer team will do the country proud at the 2022 Cosafa championship where they will face Botswana in today’s quarter final clash in Durban.
“The technical bench has assembled the best local talents that we believe will do our nation proud,” Kamanga said.
‘Senegal a tough test for Copper Queens’
