sport.wikisort.org - Team

Zambia

Nickname(s)	Copper Queens She-polopolo
Association	Football Association of Zambia
Confederation	CAF
Sub-confederation	COSAFA
Head coach	Bruce Mwape
Captain	Barbra Banda
FIFA code	ZAM
First colours Second colours Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current	81 1 (13 October 2022)[1]
Highest	80 (2022)
Lowest	126 (March 2012)
First international
South Africa 5–3 Zambia  (South Africa; 5 November 1994)
Biggest win
Zambia 15–0 Mauritius  (Ibhayi, South Africa; 1 August 2019)
Biggest defeat
Zambia 3–10 Netherlands  (Rifu, Japan; 21 July 2021)
World Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2023)
Best result	TBD
Africa Women Cup of Nations
Appearances	4 (first in 1995)
Best result	Third place (2022)
Summer Olympics
Appearances	1 (first in 2020)
Best result	9th (2020)

Zambia women's national football team, nicknamed The She-polopolo or the Copper Queens, represents Zambia in women's association football. There is also a Zambia women's national under-17 football team, a Zambia women's national under-20 football team, and Olympic qualifying team and a Homeless World Cup team. The country has participated in several qualifying tournaments for the FIFA Women's World Cup and other African-based football tournaments. The country is the first landlocked nation in Africa to qualify for a senior World Cup of either men's or women's, having its maiden debut in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

History

Background

Zambia women's national football team is called The She-polopolo.[2][3] In 1985, almost no country in Africa had a women's national football team.[4] Women's football was formally organised by the Football Association of Zambia in 1983. Since that time, Zambia has created a women's senior national team and an under-20 team. Women's football continues to be supported by the national federation who have budgeted money for the women's game and youth game.[5] In 2009, there were 100 women's teams for players over 16, and 112 youth women's teams for players under 16.[5] There is a national women's league established in the country along with regional and school competitions.[5]

Women's football in Africa as a whole faces problems that include limited access to education, poverty amongst women in the wider society, and fundamental inequality present in the society that occasionally allows for female specific human rights abuses.[6] When quality football players are produced in Africa, often they leave the country to seek greater opportunities elsewhere, to the detriment of the local game.[7] Funding also is a problem for the women's game in Africa, with most of the funding for women's football in the Africa coming from FIFA, not the local national football association.[7]

Zambia women's national football team has had their kit sponsored. In 2003, the kit for the national team was provided as a result of a sponsorship deal with Umbro who first agreed to sponsor the Zambia national football team.[8] The team's official kit colours include green shorts, a green jersey and green socks.[9] The team has received media coverage from the Zambia Daily Mail, Times of Zambia and the Post Newspapers. This coverage has included pictures of players being printed in the newspaper and interviews with players.[10]

Performance

Some of the earliest matches Zambia women's national football team played were in 1994, for qualification for 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup. They played in a 5 November 1994 World Cup qualifier against South Africa in South Africa, where Zambia lost 3–5. In the return match in Lusaka, Zambia on 17 November 1994, Zambia lost again but with a score of 2–6.[11][12][13]

Between these games and 2001, the country did not play in any FIFA sanctioned matches.[12] The country participated in the 2002 COSAFA Cup women's tournament in Harare, Zimbabwe. They were in Group A. Zambia beat the Malawi women's national football team 8–0 on 20 April. Zambia played against Zimbabwe women's national football team on 22 April where they lost 0–4. On 23 April, Zambia beat Lesotho women's national football team 3–1. They finished second in their group. On 26 April, Zambia lost to South Africa women's national football team 1–3 in the semifinals. They went on to beat Mozambique women's national football team 1–0 in the third place game, with Julia Siame scoring the only goal in the 60th minute.[11][12][14] Later that year, in a regional qualifying match for a different tournament, on 21 September in Lusaka, Zambia against South Africa, the team lost 1–4 after being down 0–2 at the half. In the return match in South Africa on 12 October 2002, they again lost 0–4.[11][12] By 2003, the country was ranked the 106th best female women's national team by FIFA.[15]

In 2004, their rank dropped to 113.[15] That year, the team was coached by Cephias Katongo, who was also coaching the Zambia national under-17 football team and a top-level club team at the same time.[16] In 2004, Zimbabwe women's national football team had committed to play a match against Zambia before Zimbabwe took on Tanzania in Dar e Salaam but this did not happen because of organizational problems by Zimbabwe Football Association.[17]

In 2005, the country's FIFA ranking was unchanged and remained 113,[15] with the country playing in no FIFA recognised matches.[12] The following year, in 2006, Zambia women's national football team world ranking dropped down to 126.[15] That year, the head coach was George Chikokola.[18] In March 2006, the team played a home and away set of against Congo DR. On Saturday, 11 March 2006 in a game played in Lubumbashi, Congo DR won 3–0 against Zambia. Congo DR led 1–0 at the half.[12] On Saturday, 25 March 2006 in a game played in Chingola, Zambia lost 2–3, a score that remained the same from half time, against Congo DR.[12] In 2005, Zambia was supposed to host a regional COSAFA women's football tournament, with ten teams agreeing to send teams including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland.[19] There is no indication this tournament happened.[12]

The 2006 team had 20 players. The regional COSAFA championship team was announced on 18 August 2006. Three other players were chosen as reserves. The roster included Goalkeepers: Mwenzi Lungu and Christabel Kabemba, Defenders: Sampa Mutale, Lillian Chalimbana, Florence Tembo, Anna Lungu, Harriet Banda, Charity Mwanza and Ruth Mubanga, Midfielders: Etas Banda, Martha Mutale, Susan Banda and Rixina Lutaka, Strikers: Gift Lisaka, Charity Mpongo, Debora Shamaoma, Mwangala Kamuti, Noria Sosala, Mutimbwa Chizyuka and Sandra Mwamba. The reserves were Loveness Musoni, Leya Bowa and Abba Lungu.[18] The 2006 Confederation of Southern African Football Associations women's tournament was held in Lusaka. They were in Group A. On 22 August, they tied Namibia 2–2 with Noria Sosala scoring in the 15th minute and Charity Mpongo scoring in the 30th minute for Zambia. They beat Swaziland 7–0 on 24 August, with Charity Mpongo scoring in the 23rd, 43rd, 64th and 67th minutes, Susan Banda scoring in the 37th minute, Gift Lishika scoring in the 41st minute, and Martha Kapombo scoring in the 56th minute for Zambia. They finished in the top of their group. On 25 August in a semifinal against Namibia, they tied 1–1 with Martha Kapombo scoring their only goal in the 90th minute. They lost the game in an overtime shoot out by 4–5. On 26 August, they beat Zimbabwe 2–1 to finish third with Noria Sosala scoring both goals in the 67th and 75th minutes.[12][14]

2007 saw an improvement in rank for Zambia, moving up nine sports to 117 best team in the world.[15] That year, the team was supported to participate in the 2007 African Games qualifying tournament, opening against the Mozambique women's national football team but Zambia withdrew from the tournament before they played a single game.[20] Later that year, on Sunday, 2 December 2007 in a game played in Harare, Zimbabwe won 3–1 against Zambia. The game was part of the 2008 African Women Championship.[12][21] In the return match on Sunday, 16 December 2007 in a game played in Lusaka, Zambia won 2–1 against Zimbabwe.[12][21]

In 2008, the team's ranking again went up, this time to 110.[15] The played one FIFA recognised match on Sunday, 4 May 2008 in a game played in Benguela against Botswana. Zambia won 4–2, holding on from a 3–1 score at the half.[12] In 2009, FIFA ranked the country as the 92 in the world.[15] That year, they did not play any FIFA recognised matches.[12] The team's world ranking fell in 2010 to 122.[15] That year, they played in only two FIFA recognised matches.[12] The first was on Saturday, 2 October 2010 in a game played in Lobatse against Botswana, which Zambia won 4–1, holding on to a 3–0 half time lead.[12] The second game was on Saturday, 23 October 2010 in a game played in Lusaka. Zambia won 2–1 against Botswana holding on to a 1–0 half time lead.[12]

Zambia women's national football team's rank fell again in 2011, this time to 125th best in the world.[15] They did not make it into the final group qualification round for the CAF region that fought it out to represent Africa in the World Cup.[22] In January, the team played a pair of games against South Africa. They lost the 15 January game in Lusaka 1–2, going down despite a score of 0–0 at the half. They lost the 29 January game in Umlazi 0–3 after being down 0–1 at the half.[12] Later that year, they played three games in Harare against South Africa, Tanzania and Botswana. On Saturday, 2 July, South Africa won 4–1 against Zambia.[12] On Sunday, 3 July, Zambia won 4–1 against Tanzania.[12] On Tuesday, 5 July, Botswana lost 1–4 against Zambia.[12] The country did not have a team competing at the 2011 All Africa Games.[23] Going into the 2012 season, the national team coach is Enala Phiri-Simbeye, a woman[2][10] with Deborah Chisanga serving as the team's skipper.[24] On 14 January 2012, they played a game against Malawi that they won 7–0 after being ahead 4–0 at the half. The game was part of the CAF African Women's Championship and was played in the first round and played in Lusaka. Prior to the start of the game, the team danced on the field and sang Chikokishi music. Players on their roster included Anne Kabanji, Misozi Zulu and Mwila Bowa.[2][10][12][25] Malawi beat Zambia 4–2 following a 1–0 lead at halftime in the return leg played in Blantyre, Malawi on 29 January 2012. Suzan Banda scored the second goal of the game, and the first for Zambia in the match. Mupopa Kawange scored Zambia's second goal. Zambia had a number of fans, most women, who attended the game in Malawi. These fans played music during the game to encourage their team's players. Music played included "Time Time yawo yatha", a Zambian hit song. Another song played was a "Akamwire", a Malai hit song.[12][25][26] In March 2012, the team was ranked the 126th best in the world and the 19th best in CAF.[27]

In the African qualifiers for the 2020 Olympics, they defeated Cameroon in the final round and qualified for the Olympics for the first time.[28] In their Olympics debut, they experienced a 3–10 loss to the Netherlands, the highest-scoring women's football match in Olympics history.[29] Nonetheless, Zambia's participation in the Olympics eventually fed its growth, and in the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Zambia successfully reached the semi-finals, beating Senegal on penalties, thus became the first landlocked country in Africa to qualify for a senior FIFA World Cup tournament, with Zambia set to debut in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Team image

Nicknames

The Zambia women's national football team has been known or nicknamed as "The She-polopolo" or "Copper Queens".

Other national teams

Olympic/U-23 team

For the 2012 Summer Olympics, there are no age restrictions for players,[30] though Zambia has opted to qualify with a U20/U23 side.[31][32] Zambia competed in the qualifying tournament in an effort to represent the country at the 2012 Summer Olympics. The qualification tournament started in 2010. The team was coached by Enala Phiri-Simbeye. During their campaign, they beat the Botswana women's national football team 4–1 in Gaborone and beat them again 2–1 in Lusaka. The quality performance of the team earned praise from women's groups inside the country.[31][32] In January 2011, Zambia had to face South Africa in the qualifying tournament for the Olympics. The squad named to play against South Africa included goalkeepers Mirriam Katamanda, Ennie Matukuta, Defenders Meya Banda, Verocia Chiluba, Jessica Chabota, Mulai Wilombe, Deborah Chisenga, Veronica Chisala, Midfielders Misozi Zulu, Susan Banda, Etas Banda, Fostina Sakala, Kabange Mupopo, Rachel Chisha, Chisala Musonda, and Strikers Mwila Bowa, Noria Sosala, Gift Lisaka and Ednasha Mambwe. Chiluba is the second daughter of Zambia's president.[33]

Coached by Enala Simbeya, Zambia's U23 team participated in the 2011 All-Africa Games qualifiers. They played a pair of games against Zimbabwe. On Sunday, 13 February 2011 in a game played at the Rufaro Stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe won 1–0 against Zambia, overcoming a half time score of 0–0.[12][34] On the return leg played on Sunday, 27 February 2011 in a game played at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia lost 1–3 to Zimbabwe, scoring a goal in the second half with the first half ending with Zambia down 0–3. Simbeya did not name her 18-woman team until a day before the game. The loss eliminated them, with Zimbabwe going on to play Angola.[12][34]

U-20 and U-17 teams

Zambia women's national under-20 football team has participated in qualification tournaments for several events including the U19/U20 World Cup and the African Women's Championships.[35] The team participated in the first edition of the African Women U-19 Championship held in 2002.[36]

Zambia women's national under-17 football team has competed in several competitions representing their country, including in the qualifying part of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, and the African Women U-17 Championships.[37][38] The team participated in the 2008, 2010 and 2012 African qualification tournaments for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.[37][39]

Homeless World Cup team

In 2008, a national team represented the country at the Homeless World Cup. In round robin play, they won every game and were Crowned Champions. The tournament was held in Australia Melbourne. They beat Paraguay 6–1, Uganda 6–1, Kyrgyzstan 5–4, Liberia 4–1, Cameroon 17–0, Australia 18–1 and Colombia 10–1. In the half finals, they beat Kyrgyzstan 10–0. In the final, they beat Liberia 7–1.The team that represented Zambia at the Homeless World Cup was led by the Twins Coach and Manager James Chibuye and John Chibuye. The tournament was a five aside tournament and it carried eight players Christine Kabemba, Grace Mwango, Melinda Namafe, Carol Kanyemba, Ednasha Mambwe, Jessica Chabota, Ireen Chanda and Sarah Daka.[40]

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Loss   Void and postponed   Fixture

2022

2023

Source :global sport

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2020)

Position	Name	Ref.
Head coach	Bruce Mwape	[41]
Assistant coach	Charity Nthala Florence Nkatya
Goalkeeping coach	Yona Phiri
Physical coach	Noreen Jonga

Manager history

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2020)

• Albert Kachinga (2014–2018)[42]
• Bruce Mwape (2018–)[43]

Players

Current squad

• This is the final squad were named in November 2022 for friendly game against Colombia .[44]

Caps and goals accurate up to and including 18 April 2021.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Catherine Musonda	(1998-02-20) 20 February 1998 (age 24)	3	0	Indeni Roses
18	1GK	Eunice Sakala			0	Nkwazi Queens
16	1GK	Hazel Nali	(1998-04-04) 4 April 1998 (age 24)	18	0	Fatih Vatan
	2DF	Elizabeth Nachivula
	2DF	Mary Mulenga				both Red Arrows
17	2DF	Esther Banda	(2004-11-21) 21 November 2004 (age 17)	1	0	Bauleni United Sports Academy
13	2DF	Martha Tembo	(1998-03-08) 8 March 1998 (age 24)	21	0	Green Buffaloes
3	2DF	Lushomo Mweemba	(2001-04-10) 10 April 2001 (age 21)	27	1	Green Buffaloes
4	2DF	Agness Musase	(1997-07-11) 11 July 1997 (age 25)	24	0	Green Buffaloes
4	2DF	Esther Siamfuko	(2004-08-08) 8 August 2004 (age 18)	6	0	Queens Academy
	2DF	Pauline Zulu				Elite Ladies
	2DF	Vast Phiri	(1996-02-03) 3 February 1996 (age 26)	1	0	ZESCO United
4	2DF	Bertha Imponene			0	Police Doves
8	2DF	Margaret Belemu	(1997-02-24) 24 February 1997 (age 25)	26	2	Hakkarigucu Spor
4	2DF	Judith Soko	(2004-03-31) 31 March 2004 (age 18)	0	0	YASA
12	3MF	Evarine Katongo	(2002-12-29) 29 December 2002 (age 19)	12	0	ZISD Queens
14	3MF	Ireen Lungu	(1997-10-06) 6 October 1997 (age 25)	16	4	Green Buffaloes
	3MF	Mary Wilombe				all Red Arrows
21	3MF	Avell Chitundu	(1997-07-30) 30 July 1997 (age 25)	19	3	ZESCO United
	3MF	Rhodah Chileshe				Indeni Roses
	3MF	Misozi Zulu				Hakkarigucu Spor
11	3MF	Xiomara Mapepa	(2002-07-04) 4 July 2002 (age 20)	11	2	Lusaka Dynamos
	4FW	Ochumba Oseke	(2002-07-01) 1 July 2002 (age 20)	20	4	Red Arrows
	4FW	Prisca Chilufya				Red Arrows
	3MF	Racheal Kundananji	(2000-06-03) 3 June 2000 (age 22)	7	6	Madrid CFF
	3MF	Racheal Nachula	(2000-06-03) 3 June 2000 (age 22)	7	6	Zaragoza CFF

Recent call ups

The following players have been called up to a Zambia squad in the past 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Leticia Lungu	(2004-08-07) 7 August 2004 (age 18)	1	0	Zesco United	v. ColombiaPRE, 12 November 2022
GK	Ngambo Musole	(1998-06-23) 23 June 1998 (age 24)	1	0	ZESCO United	2022 AFWCON qualification Second round
GK	Mary Nanyinza			0
GK	Chitete Munsaka			0	Lusaka Dynamos Women FC
GK	Agness Banda			0	National Assembly
DF	Anita Mulenga	(1995-05-03) 3 May 1995 (age 27)	12	0	Green Buffaloes
DF	Pauline Zulu			0	Lusaka Dynamos Women FC
MF	Mary Mambwe					v. ColombiaPRE, 10 November 2022
MF	Susan Banda					v. ColombiaPRE, 10 November 2022
MF	Eneless Phiri				Police Doves	v. ColombiaPRE, 10 November 2022
MF	Siomala Mapepa				Elite Ladies	v. ColombiaPRE, 10 November 2022
MF	Milika Limwanya	(1996-08-08) 8 August 1996 (age 26)	5	0	Red Arrows	2022 AFWCON qualification Second round
MF	Theresa Chewe	(1997-11-27) 27 November 1997 (age 24)	4	0	Indeni Roses	2022 AFWCON qualification Second round
MF	Norin Betani			0	Indeni Roses
MF	Mary Wilombe	(1997-09-22) 22 September 1997 (age 25)	22	1	Red Arrows	2022 COSAFA Women's Championship
MF	Natasha Witika			0	Bayelsa Queens	2022 COSAFA Women's Championship
MF	Maweta Chilenga	(2003-08-03) 3 August 2003 (age 19)	2	0	BUSA	2022 COSAFA Women's Championship
MF	Misozi Zulu	(1994-10-11) 11 October 1994 (age 28)	12	0	Hakkarigücü Spor	2022 COSAFA Women's Championship
FW	Grace Chanda	(1997-06-11) 11 June 1997 (age 25)	28	10	Madrid CFF	v. ColombiaPRE, 10 November 2022
FW	Elizabeth Mwale				ZISD Women
FW	Jessy Zulu				Pataaki
FW	Noria Sosala	(1988-12-25) 25 December 1988 (age 33)	3	0	Indeni Roses
FW	Lillian Mwaba				Queens Academy
FW	Barbra Banda	(2000-03-20) 20 March 2000 (age 22)	10	22	Shanghai Shengli	2022 COSAFA Women's Championship
FW	Natasha Nanyangwe	(1999-07-27) 27 July 1999 (age 23)	3	0	Green Buffaloes	2022 COSAFA Women's Championship
FW	Eneless Phiri				Police Doves	2022 COSAFA Women's Championship

Previous squads

Africa Women Cup of Nations

• 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations squads

COSAFA Women's Championship

• 2020 COSAFA Women's Championship squad
• 2022 COSAFA Women's Championship squad

Captains

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2021)

• Barbra Banda (2016–)

Records

• Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 2020.

Honours

Regional

• COSAFA Women's Championship

Runners-up: 2019

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup record
Year	Result	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	GF	GA
1991	Did not enter
1995	Did not qualify
1999	Did not enter
2003	Did not qualify
2007
2011	Did not enter
2015	Did not qualify
2019
2023	Qualified
Total	1/9	0	0	0	0	0	0

Olympic Games

Summer Olympics record
Year	Result	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	GF	GA
1996	Did not qualify
2000	Did not enter
2004
2008
2012	Did not qualify
2016
2020	Group stage	3	0	1	2	7	15
Total	1/7	3	0	1	2	7	15

Africa Women Cup of Nations

Africa Women Cup of Nations record
Year	Result	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	GF	GA
1991	Withdrew
1995	Quarterfinals	2	0	0	2	5	11
1998	Did not enter
2000
2002	Did not qualify
2004	Did not enter
2006	Did not qualify
2008
2010	Did not enter
2012	Did not qualify
2014	Group stage	3	0	1	2	1	9
2016	Did not qualify
2018	Group stage	3	1	1	1	6	5
2020	Cancelled
2022	Third place	6	3	2	1	7	3
Total	4/14	14	4	4	6	19	28

African Games

African Games record
Year	Result	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	GF	GA
2003	Did Not Enter
2007
2011	Did Not Qualify
2015	DID not qualify
2019
2023	To Be Determined
Total	0/4	0	0	0	0	0	0

COSAFA Women's Championship

COSAFA Women's Championship record
Year	Round	Pld	W	D*	L	GS	GA	GD
2002	3rd
2006	3rd
2008	??
2011	Groupe stage	3	1	0	2	5	7	−1
2017	3rd	5	2	3	0	18	9	+2
2018	4th	5	3	0	2	6	2	+2
2019	Runner up	5	3	1	1	22	3	+19
2020	3rd	3	1	0	2	9	3	+6
2021	3rd	5	3	2	0	11	2	+9
Total	Group stage	3

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Turkish Women's Cup

Turkish Women's Cup record
Year	Result	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
2021	Withdrew[45]
Total	1/5

All−time record against FIFA recognized nations

The list shown below shows the Djibouti national football team all−time international record against opposing nations.
*As of xxxxxx after match against xxxx.

Key

Against	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Confederation

Record per opponent

*As ofxxxxx after match against xxxxx.

Key

The following table shows Djibouti's all-time official international record per opponent:

Opponent	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W%	Confederation
Total									—

See also

• Sport in Zambia
  • Football in Zambia
    • Women's football in Zambia
• Zambia women's national football team
  • Zambia women's national football team results
  • List of Zambia women's international footballers
• Zambia women's national under-20 football team
• Zambia women's national under-17 football team
• Zambia men's national football team

References

External links

• Official website
• FIFA profile, FIFA.com (in English)

На других языках

---

- [en] Zambia women's national football team

---

[ru] Женская сборная Замбии по футболу

Женская сборная Замбии по футболу представляет Замбию на международных матчах и турнирах по футболу. Контролируется Футбольной ассоциацией Замбии. Единственным достижением на данный момент является выход на Олимпийские игры 2020 года.

---

---