2025 promises a lot of action for Women’s Football with the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, The African U-17 Women’s World Cup qualification, The U-17 Women’s World Cup, and qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will all take place this year. However we look back at 2024 a year that was almost perfect for Women’s Football. Zambia dominated the region, qualified to the WAFCON, the Olympics and also the U17 Women’s World Cup. COPPER PRINCESSES The Zambia U17 Women’s National Team qualified to the 2024 U17 Women’s World Cup. Carol Kanyemba’s side saw off Tanzania in the second round via a 5-1 aggregate scoreline with a brace from Blessings Zangose Zulu and a goal each from Saliya Mwanza, Bwalya Namute Chileshe and Ruth Muwowo. In the third round, Zambia beat Uganda 2-1 on aggregate thanks to a 2-0 home win in the first leg at the Heroes Stadium with goals from Ruth Mukoma and Namute Chileshe. The team lost 1-0 in Kitende, Uganda in the second leg. The Copper Princesses sealed their path to the 8th edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with a 3-1 aggregate win over Morocco, Bwalya Namute Chileshe scoring a hat-trick in the first leg before a goalless draw in the return fixture. This was only Zambia’s second appearance at the global showpiece after making a maiden appearance in 2014. At the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup things did not go as planned as Zambia suffered three straight losses. The Copper Princesses lost 1-0 to Brazil, 2-0 to Poland and concluded the tournament with a 4-1 bashing at the hands of Japan. Coach Carol Kanyemba quickly regrouped with her team as they needed to participate in a regional showpiece, the COSAFA U17 Women’s Championship. The Copper Princesses started the tournament with a 3-0 win over Botswana thanks to goals from Mercy Chipasula, Natasha Nkaka and Hellen Banda. In the second match, Zambia came from a goal down to thrash Zimbabwe 7-2 and stay at the top of Group C at UJ AW Muller Stadium. Chedza Khumalo opened the scoring for Zimbabwe with her second goal of the tournament inside 10 minutes with Tatenda Gambiza getting the consolation. There were three braces for the Copper Princesses, from Mercy Chipasula, who took her goal tally to three goals, Grace Phiri and Masela Sekeseka, while Lweendo Hanongo also contributed to the score. The Copper Princesses completed their group matches with a ruthless win over Mauritius putting 10 past them without reply to finish first in the pool with nine points in Soweto. Player of the Match Masela Sekeseke scored four goals to take her tally to six in the tournament. Mercy Chipasula contributed a brace making it five goals for the captain at the event, Natasha Nkaka now has three goals after scoring a brace on Monday. Grace Phiri was also on the score sheet with a sole goal which took her tally to three while Nasaina Tahiajee unfortunately scored into her own net. In the semifinals, Zambia beat Madagascar 3-0 with goals from Hellen Banda, Grace Phiri and Mercy Chipasula. Zambia were crowned the 2024 COSAFA Under-17 Girls Championship winners after humbling debutants Lesotho 15-0 in a one sided final in Soweto to claim gold. Mercy Chipasula put in a master class scoring seven goals while Masela Sekeseke scored a hat-trick, Hellen Banda scored a brace, with Lilian Mwenda, Janet Chirwa and Wendy Mwikisa contributing a goal each. YOUNG COPPER QUEENS The Zambia U20 Women’s National Team won the 2024 COSAFA U20 Women’s Championship with a 100 percent winning record. The Young Copper Queens edged Mozambique 1-0 to conclude a five team tournament played on a round robin basis. Zambia started with a 9-0 win over Lesotho then beat South Africa 3-0 before thrashing Botswana 6-0. A Blessings Zangose Zulu goal was enough for the Charles Haalubono coached side to secure gold at the regional showpiece with a 1-0 win over Mozambique in their last game of the tournament. Zambia scored 19 goals minus conceding a single goal. COPPER QUEENS The Copper Queens started the year with qualifying to the 2024 WAFCON beating Angola 12-0 in aggregate with Barbra Banda leading the way with four goals. Lushomo Mweemba, Ireen Lungu, Racheal Kundananji, Susan Banda, Aveil Chitundu and Esther Banda scored a goal each. The Copper Queens then took on their next assignment at the 2024 Paris Olympics qualification. The Copper Queens beat Ghana 4-3 on aggregate in the second round .Skipper Barbra Banda scored an injury time free kick to send Zambia to the final round of the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifier. The win meant Zambia set up a meeting with Morocco in the final round. The Copper Queens booked their ticket to their second consecutive Olympics Women’s Football Tournament after doing the unthinkable in reversing a 2-1 home defeat to a 2-0 win over Morocco. A brace by the Copper Queens skipper, Barbra Banda who shone at the 2020 edition of the global showpiece ensured that Zambia went through after a nervy start. At the tournament, Zambia did not have a pleasant tournament as they lost all their three group games. Zambia lost 3-0 to the USA, before crumbling after a healthy lead to lose 6-5 to the Matildas of Australia and ending the tournament with a 4-1 loss to Germany. The only positive note was Barbra Banda scoring yet another Olympics hat-trick. The Copper Queens then concluded the year with a title. Zambia were crowned 2024 COSAFA Women’s Championship winners after they edged hosts South Africa 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw in the final in Gqebeha, earning the Copper Queens’ their second title. KUNDANANJI MAKES HISTORY In February, Racheal Kundananji became the most expensive women’s footballer in history after joining Bay FC from Madrid CFF for $860,000 (£685,000). The forward, who scored 33 goals in 43 Liga F games for Madrid, agreed a four-year deal with the American club, with the option of a further year. This meant, Kundananji, 23, became the first African player, male or female, to break a world transfer record. BARBRA BANDA’S YEAR Banda started the year with a big money move to Orlando Pride becoming the second-most expensive women’s transfer in history. The 23-year-old joined the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) club for $740,000 (£581,000) from Chinese club Shanghai Shengli. Banda joined Pride on a four-year deal and will become one of the highest-paid players in the United States’ NWSL. In her debut season in the National Women’s Soccer League with Orlando Pride, Banda was instrumental in her team’s success, scoring 13 goals and 6 assists during the regular season. Her impactful performance in the playoffs, including scoring the game-winning goal in the final, earned her the Most Valuable Player (MVP) accolade. She scored 4 goals across the three knockout stages and assisted one as Orlando Pride won the NWSL Championship after having won the NWSL shield. Banda was named in the NWSL Best XI, She was also named in the FIFPRO World eleven becoming the first African to be named in the 2024 FIFPRO Women’s World 11, a global recognition determined by votes from 7,000 professional footballers and she also made the IFFHS World XI. At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games where she netted four goals for the Copper Queens during the tournament, Banda made history as the first player in women’s football to score three hat-tricks in Olympic games. Banda became the first Zambian to win the CAF Women’s Player of the Year Award and was also named in the CAF/FIFPRO Africa XI 2024. Banda was voted the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year and came out second in the FIFA, The Best Awards, in the World Women’s Football player of year awards. The Zambian international came out 12th in the Ballon D’or awards.
Chipolopolo Boys head coach Moses Sichone says the team will not focus on winning the Africa Cup of Nations but on competing at the continental showpiece. Sichone who was speaking to journalists after Tuesday’s training session at UNILUS School Ground said he wants the team to compete and see how well they play all the games. “For us, we want the players who are ready to fight for the country and also to know why we are going there. I won’t say that we are going to win the Cup, but I would say we want to compete and see how we play all the games,” he said. “Yeah so far so good. We started here two weeks ago and I like the progress and that’s why also you know we’ve tried to to change the training also we know we don’t have much time but so far I would just say yeah we’re seeing positive things from the team and the guys they are receiving whatever that we we are telling them positively.” “It’s just unfortunate that we won’t have all the foreign based players ,you know, in a good time. We actually wanted to utilize having everyone on board. But yeah, I have to speak to the technical director knowing when everybody will be arriving in Spain. I only know about Kings (Kangwa) and Lubambo Musonda, so I personally talked to them. They will be released on the 14th. So we are planning to have everyone on board so that at least we do the final preparation,” he added. Sichone has asked the fans to support the team as it has a blend of experience and young players. He is also aware that critics will be there as expectations are very high among Zambians. “Like I said yesterday, we are trying our level best to prepare the team and not only go there to participate, but to go and compete. And I know the expectations are high from all Zambians. We have a team that includes young players. So these players here and the experienced players also need support. And it won’t do well, of course, we expect there will be critics. So it’s part of football. So I can only say the team needs support as much as every Zambian can show some love to this team,” he said. Sichone says he had to have a one on one talk with players who have been dropped to encourage them to keep working hard. “It’s always a difficult thing, you know, the emotions also, you know, because every player that we called expected to be a part of the final team. But we cannot keep everyone, so I had to find time to speak to the individuals and also, you know, to encourage the guys. This is not the end of their career, so they just need to continue working hard,” he said. On the readiness of the team, Sichone said: “That I don’t say much, that’s why you saw, you know, training we have adjusted a bit and of course on that question I can only say much after our Spain camp.” The former Chipolopolo defender says the team will take every game seriously as all three opponents have good teams. “For me, we are taking every opponent so seriously. We know Malians are there, they’ve got a good team, Comoros too, and not to talk about Morocco. So for us, the most important thing is we are preparing the guys mentally and also physically to take all these three games seriously and see the outcome,” he said. Zambia will have a pre AFCON camp in Spain and could face the Leopards of DR Congo and the Elephants of Ivory Coast in preparatory matches. Zambia is in Group A together with Mali, Comoros and hosts Morocco. You can not compete with reckless defenders like abena Kabaso Chongo in defence. Put Kalimina and the other lad to try… Patson Daka is not reliable. Bring in Abel Nyirongo, give the boy a chance to shine.
Chipolopolo Boys head coach Moses Sichone has named his final 28 member squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Leicester City forward Patson Daka, Saudi Arabia based forward Fashion Sakala, US Lecce winger Lameck Banda and Hapoel Be’er Sheva midfield ace Klings Kangwa lead the squad named for the continental showpiece. Sichone has also included youngsters Joseph Liteta of Cagliari Calcio and defender David Hamansenya of CD Leganés. FC MUZA midfielder Given Kalusa and Kafue Celtic forward on loan at Sensational ZANACO Eliya Mandanji have also made the cup. In form Kingston Mutandwa has not made the cut alongside CD Leganés midfielder Gift Siame. The Chipolopolo Boys will today leave for Murcia, Spain, for the final phase of preparations. The Spain camp will run from December 11–17, 2025 before the team jets into Morocco for the tournament. Zambia could face the Leopards of DR Congo and the Elephants of Ivory Coast in preparatory matches while in Spain. Zambia is in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, West African giants Mali, and Comoros. FULL SQUAD (GOALKEEPERS) Lawrence Mulenga, Willard Mwanza (both Power Dynamos), Francis Mwansa (Zanaco). (DEFENDERS) Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Kabaso Chongo, Gift Mphande (both Zesco United), Stoppila Sunzu (Changchuan Yatai-China), Frankie Musonda (Bahrain FC-Bahrain), David Hamansenya (FC Leganese-Spain), Mathews Banda (Nkana), Obinno Chisala (Al Mereikh-Sudan), Benson Sakala (Bohemians-Czech Republic) (MIDFIELDERS) Miguel Chaiwa (Hibernian-Scotland), Given Kalusa ( FC MUZA), Owen Tembo (Power Dynamos), Joseph Liteta (Cagliari-Italy), Wilson Chisala (ZANACO), Kings Kangwa, Joseph Sabobo Banda (both Maccabi Be’er Sheva-Israel), David Simukonda, Pascal Phiri (all Zesco United),Lameck Banda (Lecce-Italy), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha-Saudi Arabia), Lubambo Musonda (Magdeburg-Germany) (STRIKERS) Patson Daka (Leicester City-England), Jack Lahne Kalichi (Lustenau-Austria), Kennedy Musonda (Hapoel Ramat Gan-Israel), Eliya Mandanji (ZANACO) On paper this team looks good or rather okay even though some inclusion and exclusion are questionable. i would give an example of Kalichi over Mutandwa. personally i feel Mutandwa should have made the cut over Kalichi based on how he has been performing at club level. Kalichi is a good player/striker but i don’t he’s not what we need at the moment in my opinion. We really need to “rebuild” our national team starting from the ground level, And believe me you Mutandwa is one player we shouldn’t over look cause hes’s an exciting prospect. We have enough talent for us to tap from. Lets not overlook those that are performing just because the nation has some players who are well known by the masses but yet their performances at both club and country level are below par. At this moment we need proper direction and high level professionalism from all those that are called to the national team. Good luck to everyone and make sure you make the nation proud
Chipolopolo winger Fashion Sakala says the Chipolopolo Boys are eying qualifying to the knockout stage as their first target at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The Al Fahya forward says the players are ready to fight at the continental showpiece and that preparations have been going very well. Sakala believes the Chipolopolo Boys have a very good team that will compete at the AFCON in Morocco. “The preparations are going well. I think the team looks good. I can tell that each and every player is ready to fight for the position. So yeah, they are going very well. and I think we are ready to fight,” Sakala said. “Yeah, it’s very important. Obviously, I think our preparation started when we had those two friendly games we played against South Africa and Angola. So as we are going to Spain, obviously it’s important because we are getting closer to the Africa Cup. But I think I can tell that even now as we are still here, the team looks very good. The preparations are going so well.” “For us, we only have one goal. The first target that we have is obviously to get to the next stage. I think the group stage is very important for us and we just want to qualify for the next stage. And that’s the target for now. That’s the language that we have in the team,” he added. Zambia is in Group A together with Mali, Comoros and hosts Morocco and Sakala expects tough matches but he feels the team will put up a good fight. Sakala feels Chipolopolo have some exciting young unknown talents that are ready to cause upsets and surprises at the tournament. “Yeah they are tough games obviously but we know what we can do. We have a very good team a team of young players and we look very confident to be honest i can tell that the game we played against Angola for me that game gave me confidence that we actually have a very good team to fight in the the Africa Cup,” he said. “I think the most important thing is to build a very good team that will be ready to compete in the Africa Cup. But these two Fendu games, they’re very important for us. I think this is the time for us to test our team, how ready we are. But I can tell that we are very much ready. The team looks very good.” “Yeah, I think for me that Africa Cup that we played last time, I think it was more like a wake up call because a lot of players, it was our first time to play in such a big tournament. But I know that now, I think we are very much ready. We know what we expect in the Africa Cup. We know how tough it is, but I think we have a very good team to fight. We have players that are not known and ready to make some surprises,” he added. Zambia will open their campaign against Mali and Sakala says they are taking that game very seriously as it will shape their campaign. “To be honest I think all the teams are tough but I can tell you that we have a very good team ready to compete. I think we are going to fight against each and every team. For us the first game is very important and that’s when we are going to see if we can proceed in the next stage but I know for sure that the team will fight against Mali in our first game. We’re very much ready for that game,” he said.
