{"id":45814,"date":"2023-07-17T17:39:57","date_gmt":"2023-07-17T17:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/malawi\/all-news\/banda-tips-copper-queens-to-reach-world-cup-finals"},"modified":"2023-07-17T18:06:35","modified_gmt":"2023-07-17T18:06:35","slug":"banda-tips-copper-queens-to-reach-world-cup-finals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/malawi\/all-news\/banda-tips-copper-queens-to-reach-world-cup-finals","title":{"rendered":"Banda tips Copper Queens to reach World Cup finals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Malawi. <\/strong><\/span>Zambia women’s football team captain Barbra Banda believes the Copper Queens have what it takes to reach the finals of the World Cup that is set to begin on July 20.<\/p>\n

New Zealand and Australia will co-host the month-long quadrennial showpiece.<\/p>\n

Zambia are in pool ‘C’ alongside Costa Rica, Japan and Spain.<\/p>\n

The Copper Queens will open their campaign against Japan on July 22. Four days later, they will entertain Spain before ending their group matches with the Costa Rica tie on July 31.<\/p>\n

Banda, who became the first player to score back-to-back Olympic hat-tricks when Zambia made their debut at the global showpiece in 2020, said: “We expect a tough challenge because our group is not easy. We are going to compete, not participate and our main target is to expose ourselves and reach the final.”<\/p>\n

Banda is Zambia’s first female footballer to turn professional.<\/p>\n

Banda scored 10 goals in just five games as the Copper Queens won their first Cosafa Cup title, a regional tournament for southern African sides last year.<\/p>\n

Heading into the World Cup, Banda has three goals from four games, including in the shock 3-2 win over Germany in a friendly match last month.<\/p>\n

Zambia are ranked 77th globally and will miss the services of first-choice goalkeeper Hazel Nali through injury. Banda is an inspiration to the many young girls in her native country.<\/p>\n

“It means a lot to me. Being an inspiration to a lot of girls and boys is not easy, and I need to be disciplined in whatever I do on and off the pitch, but what matters most is for someone to be inspired.”<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Malawi<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Malawi. Zambia women’s football team captain Barbra Banda believes the Copper Queens have what it takes to reach the finals of the World Cup that is set to begin on July 20. New Zealand and Australia will co-host the month-long quadrennial showpiece. Zambia are in pool ‘C’ alongside Costa Rica, Japan and Spain. 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