Zambia Grace Chanda out of World Cup due to illness
Posted : 22 July 2023
On the eve of their Group C opener against Japan, World Cup debutants Zambia suffered a significant setback as key attacking midfielder Grace Chanda was ruled out of the tournament due to illness, confirmed by team officials.
This comes as the second major withdrawal for coach Bruce Mwape's side, following first-choice goalkeeper Hazel Nali's serious knee injury last week, who was replaced by 18-year-old Leticia Lungu.
Zambia's team doctor, Faith Chibeza, stated that they have provided all necessary care and attention to Grace Chanda, but she won't be able to participate in the World Cup due to her illness. In a statement on her Facebook account, Chanda expressed her disappointment in missing out on the tournament after missing crucial days of preparation.
Despite these setbacks, Mwape remains confident that the Copper Queens can be a formidable opponent in the tournament. He highlighted their recent shock 3-2 friendly win over world number two Germany as a morale boost and asserted that they consider themselves a strong team capable of challenging any opponent.
In the absence of Grace Chanda, 26, who is a former team captain and influential player in Zambia's rapid rise in international football, she has been replaced in the squad by 18-year-old Comfort Selemani, who was part of the preliminary selection but initially didn't make the final cut.
Despite the challenges, Zambia is determined to showcase their potential on the global stage, having qualified for the World Cup and achieved a third-place finish at the Africa Cup last year.
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