By Burnett Munthali
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Zambia Copper Queens FIFA Women’s World Cup race will be in focus once again today as they face Spain in their second Group C match at Eden Park Stadium in Auckland.
Coach Bruce Mwape and his lasses will be looking for their first points in the tournament after stumbling at the hands of the Japanese on match day one.
Since the loss to the 2011 champions, the Zambia Copper Queens have dusted themselves with skipper Barbra Banda sounding war drums ahead of today’s clash.
With first-choice goalkeeper Catherine Musonda’s red card upheld by the FIFA disciplinary committee the technical bench will have to select between Leticia Lungu and Eunice Sakala for the number one spot.
Whoever will take the number one spot will be looking to be covered by the likes of Lushomo Mweemba, Agness Musesa, and Vast Phiri. Martha Tembo, Margaret Belemu, Judith Soko, and Esther Banda depending on who the coaches will select.
The midfield role provides some options among them Ireene Lungu, Mary Wilombe, Evarine Katongo, Hellen Chanda, Avell, and Susan Banda.
Upfront the Banda could be joined by the explosive Rachael Kundananji, Xiomara Mapepa, Ocumba Oseke, and Comfort Selemani.
Ultimately, the imposing Eden Park Stadium could prove an extra source of motivation for the Copper Queens that are looking to rebound strongly against the sixth-ranked world team.
Zambia should be wary of the threat posed by Aitana Bonmati and Esther Gonzalez who helped sweep Costa Rica aside in the two sides’ opening match that the Spaniards won 3-0.
The match will be played today Wednesday 26 July and will kick off at 09:30 hours Zambian time with ZNBC, Topstar, and SuperSport beaming it live.
Source: Football Association of Zambia
