MALAWI WILL BE TOUGH, PREDICTS MWAPE
MALAWI WILL BE TOUGH, PREDICTS MWAPE By MICHAEL MIYOBA ZAMBIA national women’s team coach Bruce Mwape has predicted a tough game against Malawi in today’s first round of the TotalEnergies Women’s AFCON 2022 qualifiers set for Bingu National Stadium. In an interview, Mwape however noted that his girls were ready for the Scorchers who won …
MALAWI WILL BE TOUGH, PREDICTS MWAPE
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
ZAMBIA national women’s team coach Bruce Mwape has predicted a tough game against Malawi in today’s first round of the TotalEnergies Women’s AFCON 2022 qualifiers set for Bingu National Stadium.
In an interview, Mwape however noted that his girls were ready for the Scorchers who won silver at the 2021 Cosafa Women’s Championship.
Mwape said the Copper Queens, who finished third at the Cosafa tournament are prepared and would seek an early goal to finish of Malawi before the return leg fixture.
“It won’t be easy and after the way we performed during the Olympic Games everyone is on us they want to put up a challenge to surprise us but we are ready for anything,” Mwape said.
Mwape said he was happy with the performance of young players such as Ochumba Oseke and Everine Katongo who have been making progress at senior level.
“The young players are coming up well especially Katongo, this is now the second time she has been with the national team. She was in the team that went for the Olympics. I’m sure that has made her to be what she is now because even with the under-20 she is doing fine.
“Lubasi and Lungowe, those are our future players given enough game time it won’t take years for them to get established in the team.
“I’m happy with the performance of Ochumba Oseke, she is now maturing slowly but given enough game time she will be one of the best strikers in our team,” Mwape said. Mwape has named a 20 member squad consisting of Spanish club Eiber FC striker Rachel Kundananji, goal keeper Hazel Nali, left back Margret Belemu and midfielder Grace Chanda who is likely to captaion the team in the absence of Chinese based Barbra Banda.
After playing Malawi today, the Copper Queens will host the Scorchers in the return leg at Nkoloma Stadium six days later.
The winner of the first-round tie will face either Tanzania or Namibia in the second and final qualifying round of the 12th edition of the AWCON billed for Morocco from July 2-23, 2022.
