Zambia: Zambia Women’s National Team defender Jackline Nkole is over the moon with her return to the Copper Queens set up.
Nkole was part of the Copper Queens international camp in Germany but did not make the final cut for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, co-hosted in Australia and New Zealand in July.
The Indeni Roses defender believes her call up is due to the hard work she has put in at her club after returning from Germany.
On facing Morocco, Nkole says the games are very important as they will help the team shape up for the 2024 Paris Olympic qualifiers.
“I feel so great, I feel nice. I am very happy to be back with the National Team (after missing the FIFA Women’s World Cup). I went back to my club to work hard for me to be back here,” says Nkole.
“These games are very important. If we win, we can move up on the (FIFA) ranking and again, we are preparing for the games ahead, like Olympic qualifiers and the COSAFA Women’s Championship.”
At the club level, Nkole says they are targeting winning the FAZ Women’s Super Division or finishing second after not doing so well last season. “Our target as a club is that we should finish either first or second on the table. Last season we did not do well so this season we working extra hard.”
Nkole was speaking after the Copper Queens first training session in Rabat this (Wednesday) morning ahead of the two-series friendly with the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco on 22 and 26 September in the North African country.
The first of the two matches will be played at the multipurpose Père Jégo Stadium in Casablanca on Friday with the second fixture billed for Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat four days later.