Barbra Banda and Four Foreign-Based Stars Join Copper Queens in Kampala
Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda has joined the Zambia squad in Kampala ahead of Thursday’s first-leg 2028 Los Angeles Olympic qualifier against Uganda.
Banda arrived alongside defenders Margaret Belemu, Martha Tembo and Lushomo Mweemba, as well as midfielder Ireen Lungu, with the five players linking up with the 17 locally based players already in camp.
The five are part of the eight foreign-based players called up by interim head coach Charles Haalubono for the back-to-back Olympic qualifying fixtures.
With their arrival, only Racheal Kundananji, Prisca Chilufya and Mercy Chipasula remain expected to join the squad, with the trio due to arrive on Wednesday.
The Copper Queens will face Uganda on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo, with kick-off scheduled for 16:00 local time, which is 15:00 in Zambia.
The encounter will be the first leg of the two-match Olympic qualifying tie, with Zambia looking to secure a positive result away from home before the return fixture.
Immediately after Thursday’s match, the Copper Queens will travel to Ndola for the second leg, where they will look to complete the assignment on home soil.
With several key players now in camp, Haalubono’s squad is taking shape as Zambia prepares for an important step in the journey towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
