• SHEPOLOPOLO’S Mary Mwakapila (right) competes for the ball against Foudjio Raissa of Cameroun during an international friendly match played at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka yesterday. The game was used as part of preparations for the two teams ahead of the 2014 Africa Women Championships (AWC) that kick off next weekend in Windhoek, Namibia. Picture by JEAN MANDELA

By GRACE CHAILE  –

At Woodlands Stadium
Zambia 0
Cameroun 2
ZAMBIA’S preparations for next weekend’s TN Mobile 9th Africa Women Championship Namibia 2014 suffered another setback after the Shepolopolo were wired at home by Cameroun in a preparatory match yesterday.
Smarting fresh from a 4-0 thumping to South Africa Banyana Banyana on August 26, Zambia started the match on a good note managing to hold the West Africa to a barren first half before crumbling in the second half.
Two quick goals by Ngongo Manie and Ncout Njoya in the 65 and 66th minutes respectively were enough to seal the victory for Cameroun, who are in Group B along with Ghana, Banyana Banyana and Algeria.
Zambia’s only chance came in the 44th minute through Susan Banda whose shot hit the upright while the introduction of Miriam Mwakapila brough some life into the team in the second as the hosts threatened but failed to find the back.
The match was watched by Republican Vice President Guy Scott’s wife, Charlotte, who is also Shepolopolo patron, Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) chairperson Mwamba Kalenga and Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) vice president Boniface Mwamelo.
Coach Charles Bwale should be concerned with the fitness levels of his side who easily collapsed against an aggressive Cameroon side. The two will play each other again on Saturday before leaving for Namibia on Wednesday, October 7.
Zambia is pitted with hosts Namibia, six time champions Nigeria and the Patrice Beaumelle coached Ivory Coast side in the tournament that gets underway on October 11 to 25 in Windhoek.
Meanwhile, head coach of Brave Gladiators Jacqui Shipanga has tipped her side to win their opening game against Zambia on October 11 at the Sam Nujoma Stadium to gain the necessary confidence.
“It is not about defeating Zambia but it is about wining our first game even it was against Ghana or Nigeria. Playing at hope and in the first game, we need to give our fans and sponsors and of course ourselves the momentum. It is not negotiable at all. We must win our first game, very crucial” Shipanga told the tournament official website.
Shipanga, due to announce her final 21-women squad for the championship, is pleased with the response of the players as they fight for the final places in the team.
“It has been years of hard work and dedication for these girls. If there were no rules on how many you should have, I would keep all of them, but we need only 21 and over the course of the last few months, they have all pushed themselves hard and showed that they we can do this, we are ready and ready they are indeed. It is their moment to shine and do themselves and all of us proud” Shipanga said.
Namibia opens her maiden appearance at the continental women football tournament on 11 October, 17:00 hours against Zambia at the Sam Nujoma Stadium before taking on Cote I’voire on October 14 and then face Nigeria on October 17 to complete their Group A assignments, all the same venue.
The top two teach from the two group will qualify for the semi-finals and the top three team will then proceed to the 2015 Canada, FIFA Women World Cup.