Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Zambia Unveils Squad For The Ancient Games

Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Zambia Unveils Squad For The Ancient Games By Omolagba Oluwayemi Zambia coach Bruce Mwape has unveiled the 22-member Copper Queens squad for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, with the inclusion of four foreign based players that are expected to lead the team in Japan, BSNSports.com.ng reports. Zambia who beat Cameroon to the Olympic ticket on away goals rule after finishing 4-4 on aggregate will be making their Olympics Women’s Football Tournament debut and are drawn in Group F with Brazil, China and Netherlands. They will open their Group F campaign on July 21 against 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup runners-up Netherlands in Miyagi. The Dutch will be Zambia's first-ever European opposition at senior level. Zambia. Mwape who made the announcement on 2nd of July kept faith in the core of players that have served him well throughout the grueling five-round Olympic qualifying race in which they earned that lone Tokyo automatic ticket for Africa. All three of Zambia's big hitters with the exception of Spain based forward Rachel Nachula have made the final squad. Captain Barbara Banda, Khazak-based striker Rachel Kundananji and the CAF zone qualifiers top scorer Grace Chanda who finished on eight goals are all heading to Japan. Long-serving goalkeeper Hazel Nali returns following a nine-month absence after missing last November's friendly 2-1 win over Chile in Santiago and April’s 3-1 away loss against Banyana Banyana South Africa in Johannesburg. Full Squad List Goalkeepers: Hazel Nali (Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Israel), N’gambo Musole (ZESCO girls), Catherine Musonda (Indeni Roses) Defenders: Margaret Belemu (Red Arrows), Esther Siamfuko (Queens Academy), Agness Musesa, Anita Mulenga, Martha Tembo, Lushomo Mweemba (all Green Buffaloes), Vast Phiri (ZESCO Girls), Fikile Khosa (Red Arrows) Midfielders: Mary Wilombe (Red Arrows), Ireen Lungu (Green Buffaloes), Esther Namukwasa (Indeni Roses), Susan Katongo (ZISD Queens), Avell Chitundu (ZESCO Girls), Hellen Chanda (Red Arrows) Forwards: Barbara Banda (Shanghai Shengli, China), Grace Chanda (Red Arrows), Hellen Mubanga (CFF Zaragoza, Spain), Rachael Kundananji (BIIK Kazygurt, Kazakhstan) Ochumba Oseke (Red Arrows)