A third of Zambia’s 2022 WAFCON team returns to competitive club action this weekend barely a fortnight after finishing third in Morocco when the COSAFA zone 2022 CAF Women’s champion League qualifiers starts this weekend in South Africa.
Eight members of Zambia’s bronze medal-winning team, that beat record champions Nigeria 1-0 in the third place playoffs, are in Green Buffaloes FC (GBFC) team for the COSAFA zone qualifiers that will be played at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium from August 7-13.
Buffaloes has a whopping four defenders from the Morocco tournament namely Anita Mulenga, Lushomo Mweemba, Martha Tembo and Agness Musase.
Midfielders Ireen Lungu and Martha Tembo, who like Musase played in all the matches, are also in Durban together with Judith Soko and Natasha Nanyangwe.
Zambia’s semifinal feat in Morocco also saw it qualify for the Australia/ New Zealand 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Buffaloes coach Charles Haalubono hopes that experience would be premium as the club tries to emulate country by also returning to
Morocco for the CAF Women’s Champions League finals later this year.
“It is a big boast, the only thing we can encourage them to do is not to underrate the competition or any other team just because they
played at WAFCON,” Haalubono said.
“(But) They should continue with the same kind of work they did in Morocco.”
Buffaloes are in Group B where they have been drawn against debutant Young Buffaloes of Eswatini and Olympique de Moroni of Comoros.
CAF Women’s Champions League title holders Mamelodi Sundowns are in Group A where they will face Double Action of Botswana and Mozambique side Costa Do Sol.
The group winners will battle for the lone COSAFA zone ticket to Morocco.
Action in the race to qualify for the second edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League starts on August 7 when Zambia face Young
Buffaloes.
Buffaloes are making their second attempt at CAF Women’s Champions League qualification after losing to eventual African champions Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in the semifinals of the inaugural COSAFA qualifiers last year.
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