Copper Queens: Barbra Banda, Racheal Kundananji make Zambia squad for Malawi friendlies

Zambia senior women’s national football team coach Nora Häuptle has announced a 28-member squad for the forthcoming friendlies against Malawi.

Häuptle named 16 foreign-based star players, including Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji, ahead of the meeting with the Scorchers on February 22 and 25, 2025 in Lusaka.

Addressing the media in Lusaka, the coach said she was “curious to meet the internationals full of joy and pleasure to meet Malawi.”

The former Ghana coach added: “We had a good week in camp. We screened around 35 players. It was an intense week. It was a pleasure and we had a hard decision to cut down the list to 28 players.”

Grace Chanda and Prisca Chilufwa have been ruled out of the warm-up matches due to injury. Both teams will use the strength-building matches to prepare for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Malawi coach Lovemore Fazili has since drafted in his squad stars Tabitha Chawinga and her sister Temwa.

Full squad

Goalkeepers

Mwila Mufunte

Ngambo Musole

Catherine Musonda

Annie Namonje

Defenders

Margaret Belemu

Blessings Maluba

Matilda Mukunda

Lushomo Mweemba

Martha Tembo

Abigail Munkhombwe

Memory Nthala

Esther Siamfuko

Judith Soko

Pauline Zulu

Ochumba Lubanji

Midfielders

Evarine Katongo

Natasha Nanyangwe

Avell Chitundu

Fridah Mukoma

Irene Lungu

Xiomala Mapepa

Maweta Chilenga

Mercy Chipasula

Rachel Nachula

Ochumba Lubanji

Strikers

Barbra Banda

Racheal Kundananji

Penelope Muluba

Kabange Mupopo