Zambia to face Japan and Philippines after cancelled Dutch date

Zambia will now face Japan and the Philippines this November after this week’s women’s international friendly date against the Netherlands was postponed.

The Dutch were due to host 2022 COSAFA Women’s Cup champions Zambia on October 6 in Breda as part of the two team’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World  Cup preparations.

However, the friendly has been postponed due to administrative hitches in obtaining visas for the Zambia women’s team from the Dutch Embassy in Kenya.

Zambia has been camped in Lusaka for a week, preparing for their trip to the Netherlands.

ZAMBIA FA COMMENTS

“Efforts to have the match during another window remain open, especially that we had already gone so far in organising the game,” Football Association of Zambia General Secretary Adrian Kashala said.

“The preparatory program remains in place with the Copper Queens due for a 3-Nation tournament in Asia during the November FIFA Window. Details will be availed in due course.” 

This will be Japan and the Philippines’ debut meeting against Zambia, who will be making their FIFA Women’s World Cup debut next year.

Japan and the Philippines have both qualified for FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand from July 20-August 20, 2023.

The two Asian nations are part of the five AFC representatives heading to the World Cup together with China, Vietnam and South Korea.

And Japan has an African date this Thursday against Nigeria, who qualified from Africa alongside Zambia, Morocco, and newly crowned Women’s AFCON champions South Africa.

Meanwhile, this is the second time that Zambia has missed an opportunity to travel to Europe, where they have yet to make their debut.

This follows a cancelled pre-2020 Olympic Games friendly date against Team Great Britain in July 2021 in Stoke due to COVID-19 quarantine UK entry requirements that were in place at that time.