Zambia finished second in Group A with seven points, remaining unbeaten across three matches. Their final group game saw them defeat DR Congo 1-0, a result that Banda believes shows the squad’s progress and growing cohesion.
“We stuck to our values and principles... It’s a good record coming out of the first round without a loss,” said Banda. “Whatever team comes, we are up and ready for it.”
The upcoming fixture against Nigeria is a rematch of the 2022 WAFCON third-place playoff, where Zambia claimed a narrow 1-0 victory. With that history, Banda says her team is prepared for the challenge and focused on the mission ahead.
Reflecting on Zambia’s defensive improvements—especially after conceding four goals in the first two games—Banda highlighted the importance of their clean sheet against DR Congo.
“We went back to our drawing board to correct our mistakes… The team was very organised, and we had so much possession from the back to the front,” she noted.
The Copper Queens’ captain also praised the emergence of young talents such as Mercy Chipasula and Fridah Mukoma, who have seamlessly integrated into the senior squad.
“They are our future Zambian stars… I’m happy with their performance because they are adding something to the team.”
As anticipation builds for Friday’s quarterfinal showdown, Banda delivered a message of confidence and gratitude:
“To the fans, keep on supporting and watch out for the Copper Queens in the quarterfinals. Zambia ku chalo.”
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