2025 WAFCON: Zambia tests strength against Thailand, China 

By Harry Awurumibe, Editor-in-Chief, Abuja, Nigeria

Determined to finish better than the third position they reached in the last Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), the Zambian women’s national team Copper Queens will play two international friendly matches against Thailand and China during this month’s FIFA international women’s window.

But the team will not be with its talismanic Barbra Banda and three other United States-based players in the upcoming games due to concerns about the President Donald Trump administration’s immigration policy, the country’s football federation Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has announced.

The policies have created significant uncertainty for foreigners looking to leave or re-enter the US after time abroad as a French scientist was detained, and his phone was searched upon arriving in Houston for a conference.

As Zambia is poised to play two international friendly matches against Thailand and either China or Uzbekistan in China this week, Orlando Pride trio Barbra Banda; Prisca Chilufya, and Grace Chanda will miss the games along with Bay FC’s Rachael Kundananji.

Prompt News reports that Banda, who is Zambia’s captain and forms part of the team’s first-choice frontline alongside Kundananji, will not lead the troops out in the two games due to travel issues in the US.

The FAZ said in a statement that the decision was “owing to additional travel measures introduced by the new administration in the United States of America.” The statement goes on to say that withdrawing the players from the squad was done with the advice of the Zambian mission in Washington DC and both of the involved NWSL clubs.

Meanwhile, the Copper Queens have been utilising the 2025 FIFA women’s international match calendar by playing at least two matches in every window with the last in February being a 2-0 win  against Malaui and reverse fixture which they lost 2-3 to Malaui on February 23 and 25 respectively.

The Zambians will take on their Thailand opponent on Saturday, April 5, 2025, and three days later tackle either China or Uzbekistan in continuation of their preparations for the 2025  WAFCON final in Morocco in July,  2025.

Recall the FAZ officially announced the appointment of Nora Häuptle, former head coach of Black Queens of Ghana and Swiss national team defender, as the new head coach of the Zambia women’s national football team last January.

FAZ President Andrew Kamanga outlined that Nora Häuptle’s appointment is part of a strategy to advance women’s football in Zambia. Several key objectives have been set for the new coach.

“One of the main goals is to win the (TotalEnergies) CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in July, but also to qualify the team for the 2026 edition, which will serve as a stepping stone for the FIFA World Cup,” said Kamanga.

Additionally, Häuptle and her technical team have been tasked with guiding the Copper Queens toward qualification for the upcoming 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, a crucial step in boosting their international standing.