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Zambia have spent the September FIFA women’s international match window in Morocco to play two friendlies against their fellow 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup debutants.
Bruce Mwape’s side kicked off their visit with a 2-0 win over Morocco 2-0 on September 22 in Casablanca courtesy of a brace from captain Barbra Banda.
“The girls need to show character and approach the game with the right attitude. The first game is water under the bridge. We need to finish strong as a team,” Mwape said.
“The team is ready for another tricky fixture against Morocco. They are coming to this game wounded following the 2-0 defeat we handed them on Friday. “
Another victory would see Zambia collect a third straight win since July 31 when they beat Costa Rica 3-1 in their final Group C match at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Mwape has been careful to balance his team with foreign and home-based players during the two friendlies as he prepares for a very busy competitive calendar in October.
Zambia’s first competitive assignment is from October 4-15 in South Africa at the 2023 COSAFA Women’s Cup that they will be defending in Gauteng.
However, Mwape will only have home-based players for the COSAFA Women’s Cup with seven making the starting XI against Morocco last Friday including goalkeeper Leticia Lungu of Zesco Ndola.
Another rotation is in store with strikers Oseke Lubanji and the promising Comfort Selemani prospects to come on again as Mwape looks at his local attacking options for the COSAFA Cup.
However, the four professionals are all likely to start again led by Barbra Banda and Rachael Kundananji.
But Banda and company will only be available again for national duty during the October 24 Independence Day weekend when Zambia visits Mali in a second round, first-leg qualifier of the 2024 Olympics.
