QUEENS EAGER TO IMPRESS - BARBRA
By Kalumiana Kalumiana Zambia women's national team striker Barbra Banda has stated that they are very eager to impress as hosts of the 4 nations women's friendly tournament starting with Saturday's semifinal match against Kenya at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.Nora Hauptles' side is hosting Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and fellow 2026 WAFCON-bound side Kenya in a friendly tournament at Levy Stadium from June 6 to 9.Zambia and Kenya will on Saturday meet in the second semifinal at 15h00 after the Lesotho versus Zimbabwe semifinal at 12h30.The winners will meet in the final on June 9 at 18h00 at Levy following the third- and fourth-place playoff at 15h00 on the same date.Zambia and Kenya are using the 4-nation tournament as penultimate phase preparations for their 2026 WAFCON campaign at the tournament Morocco is hosting from July 26 to August 16.Banda said Zambia is very eager to excel at home especially since this will be their last home camp before the early July pre-2026 WAFCON that will be held abroad."We are expecting good games during this 4 nations because, you know, this time around there are no pushover teams. Looking at Kenya also going to the WAFCON, we expect tough games during this 4 nations. So I think our aim is to go hard and to be determined throughout the tournament and get the best results," Banda said.The 4 nations comes two months after Zambia's other friendly tournament assignment in Brazil at the 3-nations FIFA Series, where they lost 4-0 to Canada and then were beaten 6-1 by hosts Brazil before closing with a 1-1 draw with South Korea."Yes, we all know that our fans expect a lot, more especially here in the city of Ndola," Banda said. "So fans, we ask you to come in numbers to this beautiful stadium for you to come and witness. This will be our last preparations when we are going to the World Cup. So come all, come in numbers, and witness the good game that we're going to give you."Meanwhile, three players who missed the FIFA Series are back for the 4 nations.USA-based striker Rachael Kundananji, plus rising star Endless Phiri and her ZESCO Girls Ndola FC clubmate and midfielder Avell Chitundu are back after they missed the Brazil outing due to injuries.Coach Nora Hauptle is back for the first time in full charge since October 2025, when she led Zambia to a successful 2026 WAFCON qualification.Hauptle returns after ironing out her administrative issues with FAZ that saw her local assistant Charles Haalubono left in charge of Zambia between late November 2025 and April's FIFA Series assignment in Brazil.Critically in the 4-nations, focus will be on just how much the Swiss-born coach's absence has impacted the Zambia team in her absence or whether it is business as usual.
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