Rachael Kundananji Absent in Madrid CFF’s Draw Ahead of Copper Queens’ Camp

Rachael Kundananji Absent in Madrid CFF’s Draw Ahead of Copper Queens’ Camp

Zambian international striker Rachael Kundananji experienced another stint on the sidelines as she was omitted from the team during Madrid CFF’s recent 1-1 draw against Atlético Madrid in their Week 17 Primera División Femenina fixture.

This marks Kundananji’s fourth consecutive game with limited action, with her only appearance being a brief second-half cameo in Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Real Betis on January 20th. Her absence against Atlético comes just days before she is expected to report for national camp with the Copper Queens, who are gearing up for their crucial Olympic qualifiers against Ghana.

Despite being an unused substitute in the two games preceding the Atlético clash, Kundananji was surprisingly left out of the matchday squad altogether on Sunday. The reason for her omission remains unclear, leaving coach Victor Martin’s decision shrouded in mystery.

Copper Queens head coach Bruce Mwape will be eagerly anticipating Kundananji‘s arrival in camp in Lusaka this week, hoping that she turns up in good shape despite her lack of playing time. Zambia aims to secure a return to the Olympics after their historic run to the Tokyo 2021 finals.

To achieve this objective, Zambia must overcome Ghana in a two-legged tie scheduled for the 23rd and 28th of February. The winner of this encounter will then face the victor of the tie between Tunisia and Morocco in the final round of the Paris Olympic Qualifiers. Mwape will be counting on Kundananji‘s contribution to bolster the team’s chances in these crucial fixtures.