By FELIX MALUNGA –

DEBUTANTS Zambia will open the 2014 African Women’s Championship (AWC) campaign against fellow newcomers and hosts, Namibia on October 11 at Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek.
The Shepolopolo’s match against the Brave Gladiators will signal the start of the ninth AWC finals where title holders, Equatorial Guinea will miss out after failing to qualify.
Zambia will in the next Group A match face six-time AWC winners, Nigeria on October 14 at Sam Nujoma Stadium.
For the final group matches to decide semi-finalists, the Shepolopolo will clash with Ivory Coast, the team that eliminated AWC defending champions, Equatorial Guinea in the qualifiers, on October 17 at Independence Stadium.
Zambia coach Charles Bwale, who is targeting a semi-final berth, conceded that Namibia would be difficult to beat to home because of the massive home support.
“Namibia will not be an easy opponent to beat because as the hosts, they will have crowds behind them and you expect them to shine at their home ground but I think we have all it takes to go all the way in the competition,” Bwale said after the AWC draws.
Namibia coach, Jacqueline Shipanga described Group A which also consists six-time champions, Nigeria and Ivory Coast as tough but that the Brave Gladiators would engage stronger teams in the build up to be ready for the AWC.
“We have been paired in a very tough group, especially if you are to face Nigeria and Ivory Coast, who eliminated holders Equatorial Guinea during the qualifiers. Zambia is in the same situation just like us being first timers. Looking at it, it is a group of death. From now, we want to engage stronger teams to get better. Namibia has one of the youngest teams but the girls are extremely determined and confident to do well,” Shipanga said.
Full 2014 AWC fixtures:
Group A – Namibia v Zambia (17:00 hours, October 11), Nigeria v Ivory Coast (20:00 hours, October 11), Zambia v Nigeria (17:00 hours, October 14), Ivory Coast v Namibia (20:00 hours, October 14), Zambia v Ivory Coast (17:00 hours, October 17), Namibia v Nigeria (17:00 hours, October).
Group B – South Africa v Cameroon (17:00 hours, October 12), Algeria v Ghana (20:00 hours, October 12), Cameroon v Algeria (17:00 hours, October 15),