COPPER QUEENS TO PLAY NEW ZEALAND IN LYON AS PART OF OLYMPIC PREPS

4th July 2024 | Football in my DNA

FAZ Clinches New Zealand Friendly for Olympic-Bound Copper Queens

The Zambia Women's National Team is set to play an international friendly match against New Zealand on July 13 in France. This match is part of their preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Coach Bruce Mwape’s team will shift their training base to France for the final phase of their preparations. According to FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga, the friendly against New Zealand is among several matches organized to match the quality of opponents in Group B.

“The Copper Queens will play their first international friendly during the camp against New Zealand in Lyon on July 13 at Stade Louis Darragon, Vichy,” Kamanga stated. “We will announce another high-profile match in due course. Our goal is to maintain high standards of preparation for all our teams in international tournaments.”

Kamanga highlighted that New Zealand, having co-hosted the 2023 World Cup, will be a formidable challenge for the Copper Queens. He also noted that some foreign-based players would join the camp directly in France, as their leagues are still active.

“The Copper Queens have emerged as a significant force in women's football, having competed in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, won bronze at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), and played in the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia/New Zealand,” Kamanga added.

New Zealand is ranked 28th in the world, while the Copper Queens are ranked 65th. The Copper Queens will kick off their Olympic campaign on July 25 against the United States of America at the Stade de Nice. They will face the Matildas three days later at the same venue and conclude their Group B matches against Germany on July 31 in St. Etienne.

Credit: FAZ