Copper Queens depart for COSAFA Women’s Championship in South Africa

The Zambia women’s national football team has left for South Africa ahead of the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship 2025.

The Copper Queens departed Kenneth Kaunda International Airport on a chartered flight at exactly 09:30 hours, with the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) arranging special travel for the squad to Polokwane.

Coach Nora Häuptle has announced a final 23-member team that will represent Zambia at the regional tournament, which begins tomorrow, February 18, and runs until March 1, 2026.

Zambia, the defending champions, have been placed in Group B alongside Zimbabwe, Botswana and Eswatini in the 2026 COSAFA Senior Women’s Championship.

Häuptle is expected to use the tournament as part of Zambia’s preparations for the Morocco 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The Copper Queens will open their campaign on Thursday, February 19, with a match against Botswana at 15:00 at Seshego Stadium.
They will then face Zimbabwe three days later.

Zambia’s final Group B fixture will be against Eswatini on February 24 at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

The winners of each group, together with the best runner-up, will qualify for the semi-finals.

Zambia have been one of the tournament’s most successful sides in recent years, winning the championship in 2022 and 2024, and finishing as runners-up in 2023.

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