Zambia is know as one of the best country in African continent to produce top players from Male and Female sides.
Recently The Copper queens managed to produce female players such as Rachael Kundananji and Barbra Banda, who play for Bay FC and Orlando Pride in the NWSL respectively.
The Copper Queens coach Nora Häuptle is aiming to get more Copper Queens players to move abroad and play in international leagues.
She mentioned her idea after announcing her squad that is set to challenge Malawi in an international friendly.
Häuptle said “I think the top players we have abroad are really on the top sides of the world, so I’m very happy that we have Barbra, Rachael, and all those players abroad.
“In my opinion, when I screen the league [FAZ Women Super Division], there are really interesting talents and I think, with the upcoming WAFCONs in 2025 and 2026, they will get the exposure.
“I get the feeling that they will be asked [signed] by international clubs. Probably in the next year, there will be a way for them to go abroad.
“I think we’ve got a good league, our young talents get a lot of exposure and playing time, and it’s important that a player gets more playing time in their local league before they go abroad.”
Häuptle went on to highlight that she respect her opponent (Malawi), as they have some players who are playing abroad.
She said “I always have big respect for every opponent. I think Malawi needs to have more exposure in friendly games to get into the FIFA rankings also. Now they are in the next edition qualifiers [2026 WAFCON Qualifiers].”
Malawi have managed to produce female players such as Tabitha Chawinga, who plays for Première Ligue club Lyon in France, having won the Italian Footballers’ Association Women Player of the Year in 2023 when she was still with AC Milan.
They also have Kansas City Current’s Temwa Chawinga, who won the NWSL Golden Boot Award with 21 goals in 2024 and became the first player in the league to score over 20 goals in one season.
Towards on her conclusion Häuptle highlighted that their opponents have a fantastic group of players.
She said “They have an interesting squad, I mean they have top players abroad and then there’s always the question, have they been called up? Did they also arrive here? So, we can judge their squad on the day they arrive here.”
BY LUCKY SEANEGO
