Zambia women national team head coach Nora Hauptle has summoned her 23-member final squad for the 2026 COSAFA Women Championship to be held in Polokwane South Africa from February 18-March 1, 2026.

Defending champions Zambia have been drawn in Group B alongside Zimbabwe, Botswana and Eswatini in the 2026 Cosafa Senior Women Championship. Hauptle will use the COSAFA championship as part of the buildup for the Morocco 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations.

The 13th edition of the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship will be staged in Polokwane, South Africa, from February 18 to March 1, 2026. Check out the draw here: https://t.co/BKInB2R03a pic.twitter.com/zF1b49pUaV

— COSAFA (@COSAFAMEDIA) February 4, 2026

Zambia were crowned champions in 2022 & 2024

The COSAFA squad is a mix of seasoned campaigners like Rachael Nachula, Kabanghe Mupopo, Hazel Nali, Susana Banda, Agness Musesa and Margaret Belemu and greenhorns like Mercy Chipasula, Margaret Gondwe and Chishala Mufunte who are looking to plead their case ahead of the WAFCON.

Eleven teams will compete for regional honours, with matches played at Seshego Stadium, Old Peter Mokaba Stadium and New Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Zambia will open its account on Thursday, February 18 against Botswana at 15h00 at Seshego Stadium before facing Zimbabwe three days later.

Their final Group B match will be against Eswatini on February 24 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. The top teams in each pool and the best runner-up will advance to the semifinals.

Zambia were crowned champions in 2022 and 2024 with a runner up accolade in 2023. Some foreign-based players are unavailable for this window due to club engagements.

They will however, be available in the final preparatory stages for the WAFCON, which kicks off on March 17.

Zambia COSAFA-bound full squad;

(GOALKEEPERS); Mufunte Chishala (Green Buffaloes), Catherine Musonda (Red Arrows), Hazel Nali (Zesco Ndola Girls).

(DEFENDERS); Magaret Belemu (Red Arrows), Margaret Gondwe, Agness Musesa, Rachael Nachula, Memory Nthala, Esther Siamfuko (all Green Buffaloes), Maluba Blessings (Nchanga Queens), Saliya Mwanza (Elite Ladies), Judith Soko (Zesco Ndola Girls).

(MIDFIELDERS); Susan Banda (Cekmekoy BilgiDoga Spor-Turkey), Rhodah Chileshe (Indeni Roses), Avell Chitundu (Zesco Ndola Girls), Sampa Chisanga, Natasha Witika (Konkola Blades).

(STRIKERS); Regina Chanda (Zanaco Ladies), Maweta Chilenga, Agness Phiri (both Green Buffaloes), Mercy Chipasula (Kamfinsa Police), Kabanghe Mupopo (Henan WFC-China), Eneless Phiri (Zesco Ndola Girls).

Copper Queens Quest: Nora Hauptle Names Final 23-Woman Squad for COSAFA Title Defence

Zambia women’s national team head coach Nora Hauptle has officially summoned her 23-member final squad for the 2026 COSAFA Women’s Championship, set to take place in Polokwane, South Africa, from February 18 to March 1, 2026.

The defending champions have been drawn in a competitive Group B alongside regional rivals Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Eswatini. For Hauptle, this tournament serves a dual purpose: retaining the regional crown and fine-tuning her tactical setup ahead of the prestigious Morocco 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which kicks off just weeks later in March.

For more updates on African women’s football, visit our WAFCON 2026 News Tracker.

A Blend of Experience and Youth

The Swiss tactician has opted for a balanced roster that mixes seasoned campaigners with hungry local talent. The squad features established names such as Rachael Nachula, Kabanghe Mupopo, Agness Musesa, and goalkeeper Hazel Nali, who returns to providing stability at the back.

However, the spotlight will also be on the “greenhorns”—promising talents like Mercy Chipasula, Margaret Gondwe, and Chishala Mufunte. These youngsters have been handed a golden opportunity to plead their case for a spot in the final WAFCON squad. With several high-profile foreign-based stars unavailable due to club commitments in Europe and the USA, the depth of the Copper Queens will be tested.

“The COSAFA Championship is a vital platform. We want to win, of course, but we also need to see who is ready for the intensity of continental football in Morocco,” Hauptle noted during the squad announcement.

Group B: The Road to the Semifinals

The 13th edition of the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship will feature eleven teams competing for regional honours across three venues: Seshego Stadium, Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, and New Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Zambia’s path to the knockout stages is far from easy.

• Opener: The campaign begins on Thursday, February 18 against a gritty Botswana side at 15h00 at Seshego Stadium.

• The Derby: Three days later, they face their neighbors Zimbabwe in what promises to be a fiery Zambezi Derby.

• Final Group Game: The group stage concludes against Eswatini on February 24 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Only the top team in each of the three pools and the best runner-up will advance to the semifinals, leaving zero margin for error.

Consolidating Regional Dominance

Zambia enters the tournament as the team to beat. The Copper Queens were crowned champions in 2022 and 2024, with a runner-up finish sandwiched in between in 2023. This consistency has established them as the powerhouse of Southern African women’s football.

While the absence of some “Galácticos” might worry fans, it aligns with Hauptle’s strategy of building a broader player pool. The foreign-based contingent is expected to join the squad during the final preparatory camp for the WAFCON, ensuring the team peaks at the right moment for the continental showpiece starting March 17.

Zambia’s Full 23-Member Squad

Goalkeepers

• Mufunte Chishala (Green Buffaloes)

• Catherine Musonda (Red Arrows)

• Hazel Nali (Zesco Ndola Girls)

Defenders

• Margaret Belemu (Red Arrows)

• Margaret Gondwe (Green Buffaloes)

• Agness Musesa (Green Buffaloes)

• Rachael Nachula (Green Buffaloes)

• Memory Nthala (Green Buffaloes)

• Esther Siamfuko (Green Buffaloes)

• Maluba Blessings (Nchanga Queens)

• Saliya Mwanza (Elite Ladies)

• Judith Soko (Zesco Ndola Girls)

Midfielders

• Susan Banda (Cekmekoy BilgiDoga Spor, Turkey)

• Rhodah Chileshe (Indeni Roses)

• Avell Chitundu (Zesco Ndola Girls)

• Sampa Chisanga (Konkola Blades)

• Natasha Witika (Konkola Blades)

Strikers

• Regina Chanda (Zanaco Ladies)

• Maweta Chilenga (Green Buffaloes)

• Agness Phiri (Green Buffaloes)

• Mercy Chipasula (Kamfinsa Police)

• Kabanghe Mupopo (Henan WFC, China)

• Eneless Phiri (Zesco Ndola Girls)

Can this new-look squad defend the title and send a warning message to the rest of Africa before WAFCON? The journey begins in Polokwane.