FAZ Manager in charge of Media Godfrey Chikumbi said the association has left nothing to chance in its efforts to prepare the national women’s team for the continental showpiece scheduled for July in Morocco.
Chikumbi said the recently concluded Four Nations Tournament in Ndola was part of a broader strategy aimed at sharpening the team ahead of the tournament.
He added that preparations are expected to intensify further with the team scheduled to resume camp on June 21 before heading to North Africa for a planned pre-tournament training camp, with Algeria being considered as a possible destination for acclimatisation and final fine-tuning.
Chikumbi believes the Copper Queens possess the quality and experience required to make a deep run in the tournament.
He also pointed to the impressive performances of Zambian players at club level, including Captain Barbara Banda and striker Racheal Kundananji, as evidence of the squad’s growing strength.
“We are confident that the cumulative game time and experience gained during this preparation period will give the players an advantage and enable them to compete favorably,” Chikumbi said.
Chikumbi praised head coach Nora Häuptle and her technical bench for the work done so far, expressing confidence that the team is well positioned to challenge for honours.
Meanwhile, football analyst Lucky Chama has commended the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) for organizing the recently concluded Four Nations Tournament, describing it as a crucial assessment platform that exposed areas the Copper Queens need to improve before the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Chama noted that while the Copper Queens have continued to demonstrate their attacking strength, concerns remain about their defensive organization and midfield coordination.
He noted that Zambia’s performance against Kenya during the tournament indicated that improvements are still needed despite the team’s overall positive showing.
Chama said Zambia’s direct attacking style remains one of its strengths, but tactical flexibility will be crucial if the team is to avoid becoming predictable during the tournament.
“For me, the Four Nations Tournament was a very good initiative, it has given the technical bench a fresh perspective on the areas that need improvement before WAFCON,” he said.
