Zambia will debut at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and head to the tournament on the back of a stunning 3-2 victory over Germany on Friday.
They have a squad brimming with talent and are hopeful of making a lasting mark on the competition that will earn more of their players professional contracts overseas.
GOALKEEPERS
CATHERINE MUSONDA
Musonda heads Down Under as the likely No 1 in the goalkeeping department and started the 3-2 win over Germany on Friday. The 25-year-old played previously for Zesco United but is currently on the books of Indeni Roses, though she also reportedly signed to play in Kazakhstan for second-tier Tomiris Turan Turkestan. She has been part of the national team since 2018.
EUNICE SAKALA
Sakala will be third choice at the World Cup. The 21-year-old has little international experience and has been on the bench in their build-up to the tournament. She plays for Nkwazi in her homeland.
HAZEL NALI
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Nali has been the No 1 for some time, though she is under threat now from Musonda, who looks to be ahead of her in the pecking order. She plays in Turley for Fatih Vatan, having also played in Israel and at home for top side Green Buffaloes. She is a stalwart of the national team, having spent almost a decade in the squad, even though she is only 25.
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DEFENDERS
MARGARET BELEMU
Belemu, 26, appeared for Zambia at the Under-17 Women’s World Cup in 2014 but has been a key figure for the senior national team since 2018. She played all six of their games at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco last year and is a key part of the defence. She also played at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. She plays her club football in Turkey at Hakkarigücü Spor.
MARTHA TEMBO
Tembo, 25, has virtually the exact same profile as Belemu as the pair have grown together in the Zambia defence. She was also at the Under-17 World Cup nine years ago but became a senior regular in 2018 and played all six games in Morocco last year and was at the Olympics. However, she plays her club football at BIIK Shymkent in Kazakhstan.
AGNESS MUSESA
Another key part of the defence is 25-year-old Musesa, who was at the Olympics and Women’s Afcon, where she too featured in all six games. She has featured in every one of Zambia’s friendlies ahead of the World Cup, so expect her to play a prominent role Down Under. She turns out for Green Buffaloes.
ESTHER BANDA
Teenager Banda is only 18 and has featured very little for the national team since she broke through into the senior ranks. It is likely she will go to the World Cup mostly for the experience and as a backup player, but she has a bright future in the game. She has been developed through the Bauleni United Sports Academy.
JUDITH SOKO
Soko has made a couple of substitute appearances in the warm-up friendlies, including Friday’s epic 3-2 victory over Germany. She is a backup player, but a handy one to have in the squad and at the age of 19, shows huge potential for the future. She plays at home for YASA.
MARY MULENGA
Another veteran of the Under-17 World Cup in 2014 (though she is still only 25), Mulenga only recently came back into contention for the senior side and is unlikely to start Down Under.
VAST PHIRI
Phiri has been in and out of the team since first rising to prominence in 2018 and is another player likely to be a backup at the World Cup. The 27-year-old has good experience though and will also be an asset off the pitch. She plays for Zesco United back in Zambia.
LUSHOMO MWEEMBA
Mweemba has been a key player for the side over several years despite the fact she is only 22 years old. She first rose to prominence at the 2018 Women’s Afcon and then played all three matches at the Olympics, and five of the six games at the 2022 continental finals. Expect her to feature prominence at the World Cup. At home she plays for Green Buffaloes.
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MIDFIELDERS
EVARINE KATONGO
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The last 12 months has seen Katongo grow in importance for the Zambian side and she was one of the stars of the Women’s Afcon in Morocco. She played a bit-part role at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, but since then has come into her own. The midfielder plays at home for ZISD Queens.
IREEN LUNGU
One of the stalwarts of the side for many a year now, Lungu is one of those who has travelled the path from the Under-17 World Cup in 2014 all the way through to now, becoming a crucial player for the side. The 25-year-old was previously with Green Buffaloes but recently made the move to Kazakhstan side BIIK Shymkent.
HELLEN CHANDA
Another veteran of that Under-17 World Cup, Chanda has not had as much success in the senior team and missed the Women’s Afcon while playing a small role at the Olympics. She looks a bench option, having been mostly used as a substitute of late. She also played at Kazakhstan side BIIK Shymkent.
MARY WILOMBE
Like so many others, Wilombe featured at the Under-17 World Cup in 2014 but only really broke into the senior team on a regular basis after 2020. She has become an important figure though, sometimes starting, sometimes coming off the bench. It is not clear which role she will fulfill Down Under. She is a product of the Lusaka Foundation and plays for air force team Red Arrows.
SUSAN BANDA
The oldest player in the squad by some distance at 33, Banda is a relatively new addition to this Zambia team and in some ways a surprise pick. She featured for the side all the way back in 2014 at the Women’s Afcon. She brings the experience of many years in the game and has featured quite prominently in the warm-up games, starting twice and coming on twice in the four games. She plays for Red Arrows.
AVELL CHITUNDU
Chitundu was a key part of Zambia’s run at the Women’s Afcon in Morocco last year, but her influence on the side appears to have waned since then. That being said, she did start Friday’s epic 3-2 win over Germany, so perhaps she is back in favour. She also went to the Olympics in 2021 and plays for Zesco United.
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FORWARDS
BARBRA BANDA
The star of the show and undisputed goals queen for Zambia, so much of their good work goes through her. She has pace to burn and strength and was a star of the Olympic Games with two hat-tricks. She also scored twice in the win over Germany on Friday, including a stunning winner. She seems to have been around forever but is still only 23. Banda plays for Chinese side Shanghai Shengli, having been the first Zambian player ever to turn professional.
XIOMARA MAPEPA
Mapepa is another who should feature quite heavily Down Under as the 21-year-old has left her mark on the national team over the last 18 months or so. She was an important part of their run at the Women’s Afcon in Morocco and has also featured prominently in the warm-ups. She plays for Elite Ladies FC and is a surprise pick in some ways given she was dismissed from the national team camp in South Korea earlier this year for misconduct.
RACHAEL KUNDANANJI
Kundananji’s goals have been crucial to Zambia of late, including in their win over Germany on Friday. She has also been banging them in for Madrid FC in the Spanish league, netting an incredible 25 in 29 appearances this past season. She made the move to the Spanish capital from Eibar ahead of the campaign. She represented Zambia at the Olympics but missed the Women’s Afcon in 2022. The 23-year-old can be a real breakout star of this team.
HELLEN MUBANGA
The second oldest player in the team at 28, Mubanga has perhaps seen her influence on the side diminish in recent years and she is now mostly an option off the bench. She has played in Spain for Zaragoza, as well as for the Bauleni Sports Academy and Red Arrows back home.
GRACE CHANDA
Chanda is another crucial cog in this Zambian machine and like Barbra Banda is coming off an excellent season for Madrid FC. She is one of those who played at the Under-17 World Cup 2014 and has been a stalwart for the senior national side almost since then. She rarely misses a game and almost always completes the 90 minutes.
OCHUMBA LUBANJI
Lubanji has made herself a key player for Zambia over the last few years and featured heavily for them at the Olympic Games in 2021 and the Women’s Afcon in Morocco. The 22-year-old should carry that on at the World Cup where she has the potential to be another breakout star.
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