Zambia: The Copper Queens have leapt to seventh place on the African continent and 77th in the world in what is a steady climb to the top of the global game. According to the latest FIFA Coca-Cola Rankings, the World Cup bound Copper Queens moved from 88th to 77th in the world to continue their upward trajectory.
Their Group C opponents at the Australia/New Zealand FIFA World Cup, Spain, Japan, and Costa Rica, seventh, eleventh and 36th, respectively, on the global charts.
Bruce Mwape’s Copper Queens has become a prominent feature in the women’s game, having participated at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where they were the only African team. Nigeria is the highest ranked African team, in 42nd position in the world, while South Africa stands in 54th position, with Cameroon in 56th.
Ghana is ranked 59th while Ivory Coast is in the 64th position, Equatorial Guinea is ranked 71st, and Morocco is 73rd. Tunisia is just one slot above Zambia in the 76th position.
Zambia is one of only four African countries that will be at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia & New Zealand. The full African contingent comprises South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria and Zambia.
One of the players of Zambia, Bwalya Mumba, said,”This doesn’t matter; we are the best in the African continent, and we shall bring victory from the world cup even though Argentina ranks lower than Brazil despite being the world champions. The ranks don’t decide s winning.”