Operation Conquer Africa Underway for Copper Queens

Their dominant performance saw them score an incredible 19 goals while keeping a clean sheet across four matches.

This triumph adds to the success of the Copper Queens, who are the reigning Cosafa champions.

It’s been an exciting time for Zambian football, with the Chipolopolo securing their spot in the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Looking ahead, our Under-17 boys and girls are preparing for the 2024 Cosafa Championship in the coming days, aiming to continue the success of our national teams.

The boys’ competition, which serves as a qualifier for the Africa Cup of Nations, adds further significance to the tournament.

With the Under-20 boys already qualified for the AFCON, we are hopeful that the Under-17 teams will join them in securing a place in continental tournaments.

Our AFCON qualification checklist is as follows: Copper Queens, Chipolopolo, and Under-20 boys. We have full confidence that 2025 will be a landmark year for our football, thanks to the foundation being laid today.

The Copper Queens have learned their opponents for the Morocco 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. They will be in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

While no match at this level is easy, the progress we’ve made in recent years means we will be aiming for more than just progression from this group.

Having won bronze at the last WAFCON and participated in both the FIFA World Cup and Olympics, our experience now positions us to aim for the ultimate prize. However, we are aware that achieving this will require hard work and dedication.

We are also excited to announce that we will be working closely with the technical bench to organize a comprehensive preparatory program for our teams.

It’s thrilling to see our top players making headlines globally, with captain Barbra Banda and striker Rachael Kundananji enjoying memorable debuts in the United States.

Moreover, the rise of talented players from our local league and junior teams promises to bring fresh competition to the squad, signaling a bright future for women’s football in Zambia.

Lastly, preparations for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) final round are underway.

The team will travel to Mozambique for the first leg from December 20-22, before hosting them for the reverse fixture from December 27-29.

We’ve appointed some of our top local coaches to lead this project, giving them an opportunity to showcase their expertise while empowering local coaching talent.

Coach Wedson Nyirenda will be assisted by Beston Chambeshi and Moses Sichone, with Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant overseeing all national team projects.

We have high expectations for the bench to secure CHAN qualification, as it will provide our local players with a valuable opportunity to compete on the international stage.

Preparations are already in full swing, and we challenge our local players to step up and ensure we qualify for CHAN.