Shepolopolo To Face Chile

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has secured international friendly fixtures for the women’s national team, Shepolopolo, against Chile.  

The matches will take place in the Chilean capital of Santiago on November 28 and December 1 and will form part of the preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games that have been rescheduled for 2021. 

Commenting on the upcoming fixture General Secretary Adrian Kashala stated, “We are happy to announce that we have organized a high profile match for our senior women national team with Chile. We believe that this will give the team a taste of high profile opposition as we will be flying the continent’s flag in Tokyo.” 

It is the first time the women’s nation team will be meeting a non-African opponent and comes following their historic qualification for the Olympics. The Copper Queens are only the fifth African side to reach the Olympics’ women football tournament after Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe. 

Chile are set to play the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in a two-legged 2020 Olympic play-off qualifier in February next year.  

Shepolopolo previously defeated Cameroon 2-1 in the final leg securing qualification to the tournament on away goals, having lost 3-2 to the side in Yaoundé. 

However, Chile is ranked 37th in the world while Zambia stands at 100th position.  

The Copper Queens are only the fifth African side to reach the Olympics’ women football tournament after Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe.