FLIGHT PARIS 2024: More Foreign Based Players Beef Up Copper Queens Squad

Four foreign-based professionals have joined the Copper Queens camp in Ndola ahead of Friday’s Paris 2024 Olympic Qualifier final round, first leg match against the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco.

The Kazakhstan-based duo of defender Martha Tembo and midfielder Ireen Lungu, Turkey domiciled midfielder Misozi Zulu and forward Racheal Nachula from Israel increased the tally of foreign-based players to five following the arrival of captain Barbra Banda from China.

Banda fulfilled her farewell fixture with Shanghai Shengli in China and is expected to join her new club Orlando Pride in the US National Women’s Super League (NWSL) after the Olympic qualifiers.

More foreign-based players are expected to join the team today (Tuesday) and Wednesday. The first leg match will be played on Friday at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola at 19h00.

Tickets are available from K40 in all Shoprite stores countrywide via CompuTicket. The return leg will be played in Rabat on 9 April.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS

Annie Namonje (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Ngambo Musole (Green Buffaloes), Eunice Sakala (INDENI Roses), Chitete Munsaka (Elite Ladies),

DEFENDERS

Martha Tembo (BIIK Kazygurt Shymkent-Kazakhstan), Esther Siamfuko, Lushomo Mweemba, Esther Banda (all Green Buffaloes), Pauline Zulu (Elite Ladies), Judith Soko (YASA), Vast Phiri (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Bernadette Mubanga, Thelma Chella (both ZANACO Ladies)

MIDFIELDERS

Grace Chanda (Madrid CFF), Misozi Zulu (Hakkarigucu Spur-Turkey), Ireen Lungu (BIIK Kazygurt Shymkent-Kazakhstan), Rhodah Chileshe (INDENI Roses), Comfort Selemani (Elite Ladies), Salome Phiri (Green Buffaloes), Avell Chitundu (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Evarine Susan Katongo (Green Buffaloes), Ruth Mukisi, Esther Muchinga (both ZANACO Ladies), Mapalo Maluba (Marvellous Girls FC), Prisca Chilufya (Club Juarez Femenil-Mexico)

STRIKERS

Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride-USA), Rachael Kundananji (Bay FC-USA), Eneless Phiri (Nkwazi Queens), Kabange Mupopo, Agness Phiri (both Green Buffaloes), Charity Mubanga, Fridah Kabwe (both ZESCO Ndola Girls), Namasiku Lungowe (ZISD Women), Rachael Nachula (Hapoel Jerusalem-Israel)

This post originally appeared on FAZ