Youngster Faith Kaunda finally made her Copper Princesses debut on Saturday in the team’s 2-1 win over Benin in the third and final round of the 2025 U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, first leg. Kaunda came off the bench to play in an unfamiliar left back position and impressed despite it being her first game. Kaunda was left ecstatic after a dream debut and revealed that coach Carol Kanyemba gave her confidence that she can do it despite it being her first game in national colours. The 13 year old ZedPro Sports Foundation forward was happy to be involved in the second goal scored by Mercy Chipasula. “I am very happy to have made my debut. The coach encouraged me to play, she said she knew it was my first time but she was confident that I could play,” Kaunda told the ZamFoot Crew. “I am happy that the pass I gave ended up with us winning a foul and us scoring the second goal. For the second leg, we need to have love as a team so that we can win the second half because this was the first leg.” “To the fans I want to say thank you for coming to watch us,”She added. Meanwhile skipper Mercy Chipasula described the match against Benin as a tough encounter. Chipasula says the team needs to work hard in the second leg to win the game and not concede a goal. “The game was not easy, it was very difficult, the way we watched them and how they played was very different. We need to work hard in the second leg like the way we did here after conceding we pulled up our socks. We need to win in Togo and avoid conceding so we need to work hard as a team,” he said. “I am happy to have scored. As a captain I have to lead by example. I kept pushing my teammates so that we kept pushing until the end of the match.” The second leg will be staged at a neutral venue in Lome on Saturday, 26 April 2025, following a decision to host Benin’s home fixture in Togo. The overall winner over two legs will qualify for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025 to be held in October.
Zambia Women’s National Team midfielder Ireen Lungu has joined the Copper Queens training camp in Lusaka ahead of the upcoming FIFA international friendly matches against Botswana and South Africa. Lungu, who plies her trade with Sichuan in the Chinese Women’s Super League, becomes the latest foreign-based player to report for national duty following the earlier arrivals of Turkey-based defenders Martha Tembo and Lushomo Mweemba and China domiciled winger Xiomara Mapepa. The quartet has boosted Coach Nora Häuptle’s preparations as Zambia gears up for two high-profile friendlies that form part of the build-up to the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) scheduled for 5–26 July 2025 in Morocco. More foreign-based players including USA-based Barbra Banda, Grace Chanda, Prisca Chilufya and Racheal Kundananji are expected to join camp after the weekend’s club commitments. By FAZ Media
Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda made history on Saturday morning as she netted a hat-trick to become first Orlando Pride player to do so in the club’s history – 10 Seasons in the NWSL. Banda also ended her three match goal drought with the historical treble and all in just 32 minutes in the first half of the match. It finally happened, and it had to be the Zambian international to make history as she has become an important player since her switch from Shanghai Shengli. After 10 seasons of having multiple two-goal matches for players, Banda finally netted the first-ever hat trick in Orlando Pride history. Oh, and she did it all in the first half in their game versus the Utah Royals. Banda got on the board early thanks to a ball from Ally Watt in the sixth minute slotting home from close range inside the box. Brecken Mozingo pulled Utah level eight minutes later. Banda got her second after some hustle on a backwards pass by the Royals, using her pace nicely to go past the defense and the goalkeeper before slotting home with ease in the 37th minute to put the Pride back in the lead. Banda then netted the third after a great long ball from Haley McCutcheon beating the Utah Royals goalkeeper at the near post. Banda was withdrawn in the 72nd minute by coach Seb Hines and replaced with Brazilian legend Marta. The Pride held on to win the match 3-1 despite a late charge from the hosts. Compatriot Prisca Chilufya was an unused substitute while Grace Chanda did not make the match day squad. The win takes the Pride to second place with 19 points after 10 games, two behind log leaders, Kansas City Current. Banda has shot to the summit of the goalscorer chart with seven goals tied with Spanish forward Esther Gonzalez.
Atletico Lusaka duo of Abel Salim Nyirongo and Chileleko Mweemba are currently attending trials with Serie A side Cagliari FC, the Club has confirmed . The duo has since linked up with former Atletico Lusaka teammate,Joseph Liteta who is currently with Cagliari Calcio Youth. Atletico Lusaka and Cagliari Calcio enjoy a good working relationship with Liteta joining the club in August 2024 from Atletico Lusaka. He is on the books of the Youth side (Cagliari Calcio U20) where he has played 29 games the just ended season with a goal and an assist to his name. Meanwhile striker Kingston Mutandwa joined Cagliari Calcio back in July 2024 from the Bad Boys and is on contract with the senior side until June 2028. Mweemba and Nyirongo will look to impress the Italian side’s coaching staff to join the alley of Zambian players based abroad. Abel Salim Nyirongo has proven to be lethal in front of goal scoring on his MTN Super League debut in December last year becoming one of the youngest players to score in the Elite Zambian league. Nyirongo is also the Zambia U20 first choice striker. He helped the Ian Bakala coached side win COSAFA, qualify to AFCON where they also booked a place in the upcoming FIFA U17 World Cup. Nyirongo scored twice in the COSAFA U17 Championship final including a 90th minute winner to seal the win and claim the tournament’s Golden Boot with seven goals.