Veteran sports analyst and former Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Committee member, Mircha Chilemena has expressed confidence that the Shepolopolo will emerge victorious when they face off against the Lady Warriors of Zimbabwe in the Ghana 2018 CAF Africa Women Championship.
In an interview, Chilemena said the Zambia National women’s team stands a good chance to record a victory despite recent difficulties in previous encounters against the Lady Warriors of Zimbabwe.
“Yes, Zimbabwe has been a difficult side for the Shepolopolo but the Zambian team has been in camp for a month or so, now is the time to go and play some football,” Chilemena said.
And asked if the lack of an organised National women’s league in Zambia will affect the Shepolopolo in team selection and performance, Chilemena noted it was a two way situation.
“The league is only concentrated in Lusaka and Copperbelt, if it was a national league, there would have been a bigger pool to pick the players from.
“However, these are the players that have been playing for Zambia at all levels of the women’s national team from the under 17, under 20, under 23 and now the national team, so they are used to play and the girls are ready to die a bit for mother Zambia,” Chilemena noted.
Meanwhile, Shepolopolo head coach Bruce Mwape has declared his team ready for the two-legged clash against Zimbabwe despite a few injury scares.
“We are ready for the Zimbabwe game although our captain Misozi is nursing an injury. We will wait for the doctors to tell us whether or not she will make it,” Mwape said.
Zambia hosts Zimbabwe on Wednesday in the first leg of the Ghana 2018 CAF Africa Women’s Championship, with the return leg to be played on Sunday in Harare.