2022 COSAFA Women’s Cup Champions Zambia are set for their debut trip to Europe in October for a friendly against The Netherlands.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) confirmed the friendly in a statement released on Thursday.
Next month’s friendly comes as Bruce Mwape‘s team will be making their debut FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance.
Australia and New Zealand will host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup from July 20-August 20.
ZAMBIA FA COMMENTS
“The Football Association of Zambia wishes to announce that it has jointly organised an international friendly match with the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) between the Orange Lionesses and the Copper Queens on October 6 in Breda,” FAZ spokesperson Sydney Mungala said.
It will be Zambia and Netherlands’ second-ever encounter since their competitive date at last year’s delayed 2020 Olympics in Japan.
The Netherlands defeated Zambia 10-3 in their opening Group F match on July 21, 2021, in Rifu.
Zambia captain Barbara Banda recorded a hat-trick while Dutch star Vivianne Miedema netted four goals in that clash.
The Dutch interestingly remains Zambia’s only European opponent to date at senior level.
Zambia will also finally get an opportunity to soak in that European stage experience after missing that window in July last year.
Mwape’s side had a confirmed pre-2020 Olympic friendly date against fellow Tokyo Games finalist Team Great Britain on July 1, 2021, at Stoke City’s home stadium.
However, that friendly was cancelled due to mandatory 14-day Covid-19 quarantine protocols for arrivals into the UK that were in place during that period.
Meanwhile, Zambia secured their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification last July at the 2022 Women’s AFCON in Morocco where they finished third after beating ex-champions Nigeria 1-0 to clinch Bronze.
Nigeria, WAFCON runners-up Morocco and holders South Africa all booked Africa’s automatic FIFA Women’s World Cup tickets after reaching the semifinals.
Senegal and Cameroon, who won their WAFCON quarterfinal repechage ties, will play in a 10-team inter-continental playoff next February in New Zealand for the last three places up for grabs.
