Zambia to use SA tournament to gauge WAFCON readiness - Chilufya

Photo Credit: Zambia Football Association media.

Zambia’s senior women’s national football team midfielder Prisca Chilufya says South Africa and Botswana are perfect opponents to gauge the Copper Queens’ readiness for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals.

She said this as Nora Häuptle’s girls get ready to face the Southern African opponents during a three-nation tournament in South Africa. The three teams are fine-tuning for WAFCON to be held in Morocco from 5 to 26 July, 2025.

The America-based player told the Football Association of Zambia media that the Copper Queens need to beat Banyana Banyana and Botswana’s Mares during the tournament to prove ready for the bigger challenge.

“These games are very important. They will show us where we are ready… they will bring a good gauge on how we can see the things we are lacking,” she said.

“These are very good teams. It has never been easy playing those two teams. We know what we are up against, and we know that they are also hungry. They want to prove a point. We have to prove a point as well that we deserve to win the tournament this time around. It is not going to be easy though.”

Häuptle’s side faces the Mares on Saturday, 31 May 2025, followed by a meeting with South Africa on 3 June in Pretoria. The Copper Queens midfielder Evarine Susan Katongo echoed Chilufya, saying the Copper Queens are hungry for victory as they gear up for WAFCON.

Zambia held their first training session at Clapham High School in Queenswood, Pretoria, to prepare for the game against Botswana at Lucas "Masterpieces" Moripe Stadium in Pretoria.

The three-nation games started on Wednesday, with Banyana Banyana beating Botswana 3-2 in the opening fixture.