Copper Queens Begin Pretoria Camp Ahead of Botswana Friendly
The Zambia Women’s National Team, Copper Queens, held their first training session in Pretoria on this afternoon as preparations ramp up for their international friendly against Botswana this Saturday.
The session, held at Clapham High School in Queenswood, was conducted under the guidance of head coach Nora Häuptle, who is using this FIFA international window to fine-tune the team’s tactics and fitness levels ahead of the 2025 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) set for July in Morocco.
The Copper Queens, who arrived in South Africa on Tuesday, are part of a three-nation friendly series involving Botswana and hosts South Africa. Zambia will face Botswana’s Mares on Saturday, 31 May, at 15:00 at the Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe Stadium, with the match set to be streamed live on SABC Sport. The team will then wrap up the series against continental champions Banyana Banyana on Tuesday, 3 June.
Saturday’s fixture is more than just a friendly, it presents a vital opportunity for the Copper Queens to assess their depth, sharpen their systems, and continue building team chemistry ahead of a major continental showdown in Morocco.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s next opponent, Botswana, put up a spirited performance in the series opener this afternoon but fell 3-2 to South Africa. Despite the victory, Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis was critical of her team’s performance, particularly in the second half where they allowed Botswana back into the game after taking a 3-0 lead.
“We were in complete control until we got them back into the game,” Ellis said. “It was a lapse in concentration and a drop in tempo. We need to be better in possession.”
With Botswana showing they can challenge even the best, Saturday’s match will demand full focus from the Copper Queens. Coach Häuptle is expected to use the encounter to test various tactical options and give playing time to both established stars and emerging talents.
The Copper Queens are aiming to build on their growing reputation on the continent and go into WAFCON 2024 as serious contenders. Their performance in this friendly series will be a strong indicator of how well the team is progressing under Häuptle’s leadership.
Zambian fans will be eager to see how the team performs, especially with WAFCON just weeks away. All eyes are now on Pretoria as the Copper Queens prepare to make their mark.
