Mwape calm despite Banda’s absence for Colombia friendlies

Zambia women’s coach Bruce Mwape says they will miss their star striker Barbara Banda in next week’s away friendlies against Colombia but must deliver in her absence.

Banda will miss Zambia’s two friendly matches against Colombia in Cali on November 12 and 15 because her Chinese club will not release her due to China’s Covid-19 quarantine protocols.

The friendlies will be Zambia’s first engagements since the teams’ captain inspired them to their debut COSAFA Women’s Cup final triumph in September, where she scored 10 goals to also take home to tournament golden boot.

BANDA WILL BE MISSED

Banda scored an extra-time goal to see Zambia beat South Africa 1-0 in the final.

“Anyway, it is not the first time that we are missing her, but we still wanted to see the way she performs as she did at COSAFA, where she helped the team win the Cup,” Mwape said.

“So, we will still miss her, but there is nothing that we can do because her club says she cannot be released, so we just have to depend on the players we have at the moment.”

Banda also missed the 2022 Women’s AFCON after CAF barred her on medical grounds, but she travelled with Zambia for the Morocco tournament.

Zambia won WAFCON Bronze and qualified for the Australia/New Zealand 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where they will also be making a tournament debut.

Meanwhile, Mwape said he still has ample firepower available for the Colombia friendlies led by the Spanish-based attacking trio of Rachel Kundananji and Grace Chanda, both of Madrid CFF and Zaragoza CFF striker Rachel Nachula.

The trio is part of the six foreign-based call-ups for the Colombia trip that will fly from their European bases to link up with Zambia in Cali.

Meanwhile, Zambia kicked off their training camp in Lusaka on November 7, where Mwape is expecting the five call-ups from Green Buffaloes to join them in mid-week.

Buffaloes are returning home from Morocco after making a group stage exit from their debut outing at the 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League.