CONFIDENT BUFFALOES FLY INTO COSAFA WAR ZONE…Daka talks trophy chances

Green Buffaloes Women FC coach Carol Kanyemba-Daka is confident the Zambian champions have what it takes to win the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier that will run from August 15-24 in Malawi.

Speaking before departure to Malawi for the tournament, Kanyemba told FAZ Media that the team has prepared adequately for the tournament where they are in Group A alongside University of Western Cape FC of South Africa, Herentals Queens (Zimbabwe) and FC Ongos Ladies of Namibia

Group B has hosts Ascent Academy who will battle against Gaborone United Ladies FC of Botswana, Uniao Desportiva da Lichinga (Mozambique) and Young Buffaloes of Eswatini.

Buffaloes, who warmed up for the regional showpiece with a resounding 10-0 win over Choma Warriors Academy in the Carling Black Label Charity shield on Saturday will open their Group A campaign against University of Western Cape FC on Thursday 15 August, 2024 at the 10,000-capacity Mpira stadium in Blantyre.

“The girls are very positive, the morale in camp is very high as former champions, we have every reason to win this trophy and bring it home. It’s like 2024 is like our year. The last time we won this trophy was in an even year (2022) and we are definitely working hard to bring it home,” Daka said.

“We want to surprise the world by even reaching the (CAF) finals and bringing the cup home, this is our year and we are doing it for mother Zambia. We have some few inclusions that have helped us to beef the team and we believe that we will be able to deliver in Malawi.”

Buffaloes were semi-finalists in 2023 when they lost 3-1 to eventual winners Mamelodi Sundowns at the Sugar Ray Xulu stadium in Durban, and Kanyemba does not want a repeat of last year’s showing.

“We want to work on the mistakes that we encountered last year at the COSAFA. We have worked on them and we just want to prove and perform much better and qualify to the CAF Women’s Champions League where we aim to perform better than the last time we went,” Daka said.

“All teams in Group A are not pushovers, but we are going to work extra hard and get maximum points from the games that we are going to play starting with the first game against UWC in order to motivate us for the next games we are going to play. The team has been preparing very well and we are ready.”

FULL-SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Aisha Mbwana, Blessing Kazila, Ngambo Musole

DEFENDERS
Memory Nthala, Agness Musesa, Esther Banda, Martha Katila Banda, Atness Phiri, Esther Siamfuko, Pauline Zulu, Diana Banda

MIDFIELDERS
Ireen Khumalo, Lubasi Pumulo, Evarine Katongo, Hellen Chanda, Judith Zulu

STRIKERS
Maylan Mulenga, Agness Phiri, Namute Chileshe, Maweta Chilenga, Theresa Chewe, Natasha Nanyangwe, Vanessa Chikupila, Jessy Zulu, Thanda Mokgabo