The Zambia women's national association football team represents Zambia in association football, participating in qualifying tournaments for the FIFA Women's World Cup and other African-based competitions. It made its debut in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup,[4] becoming the first landlocked nation in Africa to qualify for a senior World Cup in either men's or women's soccer.
History
Zambia became an official women's national team in 1983, and was one of the first African women's national football teams to exist on the continent.[5][6]
In 2003, the kit for the team was provided as a result of a sponsorship deal with Umbro who first agreed to sponsor the Zambia national football team.[7] The team's official kit colours include green shorts, a green jersey and green socks.[8][9]
Some matches were played in 1994, for qualification for 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup. Zambia played in a 5 November 1994 World Cup qualifier against South Africa in South Africa, where Zambia lost 3–5. In the return match in Lusaka, Zambia on 17 November 1994, Zambia lost with a score of 2–6.[10][11][12]
In 2005, the team's FIFA ranking was unchanged and remained at 113,[14] with it playing in no FIFA recognised matches.[11] The following year, in 2006, Zambia world ranking dropped down to 126.[14] That year, the head coach was George Chikokola.[17] In March 2006, the team played a home and away set of against Congo DR. On Saturday, 11 March 2006 in a game played in Lubumbashi, Congo DR won 3–0 against Zambia. Congo DR led 1–0 at the half.[11] On Saturday, 25 March 2006 in a game played in Chingola, Zambia lost 2–3, a score that remained the same from half time, against Congo DR.[11]
In 2006, Zambia hosted a regional COSAFA women's football tournament. Originally nine countries were scheduled to participate but Mozambique withdrew and the number was cut to eight. South Africa won the tournamet and Zambia came out as third place winner[18].[19]
The 2006 team had 20 players. The regional COSAFA championship team was announced on 18 August 2006.[17] The 2006 Confederation of Southern African Football Associations women's tournament was held in Lusaka. It was in Group A. On 22 August, it tied Namibia 2–2 with Noria Sosala scoring in the 15th minute and Charity Mpongo scoring in the 30th minute for Zambia. It beat Swaziland 7–0 on 24 August, with Charity Mpongo scoring in the 23rd, 43rd, 64th and 67th minutes, Susan Banda scoring in the 37th minute, Gift Lishika scoring in the 41st minute, and Martha Kapombo scoring in the 56th minute for Zambia. It finished in the top of its group. On 25 August in a semifinal against Namibia, it tied 1–1 with Martha Kapombo scoring its only goal in the 90th minute. It lost the game in an overtime shoot out by 4–5. On 26 August, it beat Zimbabwe 2–1 to finish third with Noria Sosala scoring both goals in the 67th and 75th minutes.[11][13]
2007 saw an improvement in rank for Zambia, moving up 9 sports to 117 best team in the world.[14] That year, the team was supported to participate in the 2007 African Games qualifying tournament, opening against the Mozambique women's national football team and Zambia withdrew from the tournament before it played a single game.[20] Later that year, on Sunday, 2 December 2007 in a game played in Harare, Zimbabwe won 3–1 against Zambia. The game was part of the 2008 African Women Championship.[11][21] In the return match on Sunday, 16 December 2007 in a game played in Lusaka, Zambia won 2–1 against Zimbabwe.[11][21]
In 2008, the team's ranking again went up, this time to 110.[14] The played 1 FIFA recognised match on Sunday, 4 May 2008 in a game played in Benguela against Botswana. Zambia won 4–2, holding on from a 3–1 score at the half.[11] In 2009, FIFA ranked the country as the 92 in the world.[14] That year, it did not play any FIFA recognised matches.[11] The team's world ranking fell in 2010 to 122.[14] That year, it played in 2 FIFA recognised matches.[11] The first was on Saturday, 2 October 2010 in a game played in Lobatse against Botswana, which Zambia won 4–1, holding on to a 3–0 half time lead.[11] The second game was on Saturday, 23 October 2010 in a game played in Lusaka. Zambia won 2–1 against Botswana holding on to a 1–0 half time lead.[11]
Zambia team's rank fell in 2011, this time to 125th best in the world.[14] It did not make it into the final group qualification round for the CAF region that fought it out to represent Africa in the World Cup.[22] In January, the team played a pair of games against South Africa. It lost the 15 January game in Lusaka 1–2, going down with a score of 0–0 at the half. It lost the 29 January game in Umlazi 0–3 after being down 0–1 at the half.[11] Later that year, it played 3 games in Harare against South Africa, Tanzania and Botswana. On Saturday, 2 July, South Africa won 4–1 against Zambia.[11] On Sunday, 3 July, Zambia won 4–1 against Tanzania.[11] On Tuesday, 5 July, Botswana lost 1–4 against Zambia.[11] The country did not have a team competing at the 2011 All Africa Games.[23]
Going into the 2012 season, the team coach is Enala Phiri-Simbeye, a woman[24][9] with Deborah Chisanga serving as the team's skipper.[25] On 14 January 2012, it played a game against Malawi that it won 7–0 after being ahead 4–0 at the half. The game was part of the CAF African Women's Championship and was played in the first round and played in Lusaka. Prior to the start of the game, the team danced on the field and sang Chikokishi music.[24][9][11][26] Malawi beat Zambia 4–2 following a 1–0 lead at halftime in the return leg played in Blantyre, Malawi on 29 January 2012. Suzan Banda scored the second goal of the game, and the first for Zambia in the match. Mupopa Kawange scored Zambia's second goal. Zambia had a number of fans, most women, who attended the game in Malawi.[11][26][27] In March 2012, the team was ranked the 126th best in the world and the 19th best in CAF.[28]
In the African qualifiers for the 2020 Olympics, it defeated Cameroon in the final round and qualified for the Olympics for the first time.[29] In its Olympics debut, it experienced a 3–10 loss to the Netherlands, the highest-scoring women's soccer match in Olympics history.[30]
Olympic team
For the 2012 Summer Olympics, there are no age restrictions for players,[31] and Zambia has opted to qualify with a U20/U23 side.[32][33] Zambia competed in the qualifying tournament in an effort to represent the country at the 2012 Summer Olympics. The qualification tournament started in 2010. The team was coached by Enala Phiri-Simbeye. During its campaign, it beat the Botswana women's national football team 4–1 in Gaborone and beat it 2–1 in Lusaka. The performance of the team earned praise from women's groups inside the country.[32][33] In January 2011, Zambia had to face South Africa in the qualifying tournament for the Olympics. The squad named to play against South Africa included goalkeepers Mirriam Katamanda, Ennie Matukuta, Defenders Meya Banda, Verocia Chiluba, Jessica Chabota, Mulai Wilombe, Deborah Chisenga, Veronica Chisala, Midfielders Misozi Zulu, Susan Banda, Etas Banda, Fostina Sakala, Kabange Mupopo, Rachel Chisha, Chisala Musonda, and Strikers Mwila Bowa, Noria Sosala, Gift Lisaka and Ednasha Mambwe. Chiluba is the second daughter of Zambia's president.[34]
Coached by Enala Simbeya, Zambia's U23 team participated in the 2011 All-Africa Games qualifiers. They played a pair of games against Zimbabwe. On Sunday, 13 February 2011 in a game played at the Rufaro Stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe won 1–0 against Zambia, overcoming a half time score of 0–0.[11][35] On the return leg played on Sunday, 27 February 2011 in a game played at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia lost 1–3 to Zimbabwe, scoring a goal in the second half with the first half ending with Zambia down 0–3. Simbeya did not name their 18-woman team until a day before the game. The loss eliminated them, with Zimbabwe going on to play Angola.[11][35]
Homeless World Cup team
In 2008, a team represented the country at the Homeless World Cup. In round robin play, it won every game and were Crowned Champions. The tournament was held in Australia Melbourne. It beat Paraguay 6–1, Uganda 6–1, Kyrgyzstan 5–4, Liberia 4–1, Cameroon 17–0, Australia 18–1 and Colombia 10–1. In the half finals, it beat Kyrgyzstan 10–0. In the final, it beat Liberia 7–1.[36]
2023 World Cup
Zambia qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, making the country the first landlocked nation in Africa to qualify for a senior World Cup in either gender.[37] By reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations it secured qualification.[38] It was in Group C along with Spain, Japan and Costa Rica. Its opening match against Japan ended in a 5-0 defeat. Its second match was a loss to Spain by the same 5-0 score, leading to their elimination from the Group Stage alongside Costa Rica.[39] Their final game, which was played against Costa Rica, ended with a 3-1 win to Zambia[40] as they placed third within Group C on three points. In this game Barbra Banda scored Zambia's first World Cup goal, which was also the 1,000th goal in Women's World Cup history.[40]
INJ Injured player. PRE Preliminary squad. RET Retired from international football. SUS Suspended for the next match. WD Withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue. QUA Placed in quarantine after a contact with COVID-19.
