The Zambian Senior Women’s National team will play at least four matches between now and the start of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand from 20 July to 20 August.
The Copper Queens have been drawn in Group C alongside Spain, Japan and Costa Rica.
To prepare for their debut in the tournament, they have lined up three competent fixtures where they will take on Ireland on 22 June in Dublin, followed by a clash against Switzerland eight days later (30 June) in Zurich, and round off their preparations with a high-level match vs two-time world champions Germany in Furth on 7 July.
But prior to these games against all World Cup-bound teams, the Zambian Women’s National Team will play a send-off match at home against Tanzania – this will take place on Sunday (11 June 2023) at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
Bronze-medallists at the 2022 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and reigning COSAFA Women’s Championship holders, the Copper Queens haven’t played at home since May 2022 when they shared the spoils with Botswana in a friendly at the Nkoloma Stadium.
“Finally, The Copper Queens FIFA World Cup preparations program enters the final phase with the team regrouping in Lusaka. We have organised a send-off match at National Heroes Stadium on June 11 before they trek to Germany for an international camp,” Zambia Football Association President Andrew Kamanga was quoted on the Association’s Facebook page.
“The Copper Queens will play Tanzania at home before flying out. On June 22 they will face Ireland in Dublin before playing Switzerland on June 30 in Zurich. They will conclude their European camp with a game against Germany in Furth on July 7. All the teams they will play in Europe will be world cup participants.”
The Zambians will make their debut at the World Cup with a clash against Japan on 22 July. Spain will be their next opponents four days later (26 July) and will round off the group stages when they face Costa Rica on 31 July.
The Copper Queens have already played seven friendly matches, with two cancelled (vs Netherlands and Venezuela).
They won only two and lost the other five.
| 6 October Friendly | Netherlands | v | Zambia | Breda, Netherlands |
| 12 November Friendly | Colombia | 1–0 | Zambia | Santiago de Cali |
| 14 November Friendly | Colombia | 1–0 | Zambia | Santiago de Cali |
2023
| 15 February 2023 Friendly | Zambia | 1–0 | North Macedonia | Alanya, Turkey |
| 15 February 2023 2023 Turkish Women’s Cup GS | Venezuela | Cancelled | Zambia | Alanya, Turkey |
| 18 February 2023 2023 Turkish Women’s Cup GS | Zambia | 0–1 | Slovenia | Alanya, Turkey |
| 21 February 2023 2023 Turkish Women’s Cup GS | Uzbekistan | 0–4 | Zambia | Alanya, Turkey |
| 7 April 2023 Friendly | South Korea | 5–2 | Zambia | Suwon, South Korea |
| 11 April 2023 Friendly | South Korea | 5–0 | Zambia | Yongin, South Korea |
| 22 July 2023 2023 FIFA World Cup Group stage | Zambia | v | Japan | Hamilton, New Zealand |
| 26 July 2023 2023 FIFA World Cup Group stage | Spain | v | Zambia | Auckland, New Zealand |
| 31 July 20232 023 FIFA World Cup Group stage | Costa Rica | v | Zambia | Hamilton, New Zealand |
By Matlhomola Morake
