Cooper Queens’ Mwape to axe some COSAFA Cup underperformers

Zambia women’s national team coach Bruce Mwape hints that he would drop some underperformers from his 2022 COSAFA Women’s Cup winning team.

Mwape’s team lifted  Zambia’s debut COSAFA Women’s Cup title on September 11 when they beat tournament hosts South Africa 1-0 in extra-time at Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Zambia’s victory came barely three months after their first podium finish at the Women’s AFCON following a third place finish at the 2022 tournament in Morocco.

That milestone in Morocco also saw Zambia secure their debut qualification to the FIFA Women’s World Cup which Australia and New Zealand will jointly host from July 20 to August 20, 2023.

“This was a tournament that we wanted to test the players that we feel we feel or think,   can be added to the senior national that will start preparing for the World Cup,”  Mwape said.

Mwape, though, did not specify who the unlucky player’s hearts were about to be broken.

“Some of them have failed to tick but we have identified one or two players that we think can add value to the team,” Mwape said.

However, one player who may have just finally earned Mwape’s trust is striker Ochumba Oseke after struggling through WAFCON.

Oseke was impressive at COSAFA where she was shunted into deeper role where she produced an imposing and combative midfield display.

She contributed two assists despite not finding the target at the COSAFA Women’s Cup.

Meanwhile, Zambia now awaits confirmation of a couple of friendly matches to close 2022 during the October and November FIFA Women’s International Football Windows.