The Zambia Women’s National Team has received a nomination for the 2023 African Union Sports Council Region 5 Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA). This recognition comes as the team gears up for the upcoming World Cup. The Copper Queens will face tough competition from Malawi's scorchers and Botswana's 4x400 relay team in the quest for the prestigious accolade. In recent years, the Copper Queens has showcased remarkable progress in women's football. They secured a bronze medal at the 2022 WAFCON tournament, emerged victorious in the COSAFA competition, and successfully qualified for the World Cup. Their consistent success has earned them a well-deserved nomination. Notably, several individuals from Zambia have also been nominated for the Africa Union Council of Sports Region 5 Annual Awards. These include ZNBC Sports Reporter Memory Malisawa, Swimmer Jade Phiri, Footballer Ivy Chanda (With Disability), and William Chinzewe (Draught). Eight out of the Region 5 Member Countries have submitted nominees for the 2023 RASA edition, with the exceptions being Angola and Lesotho. The RASA awards encompass twelve categories that aim to honor outstanding performances by athletes, coaches, Member Countries, Regional Confederations, journalists, and teams at both regional and international levels. The fifth edition of the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA) is set to take place on June 24, 2023, in Eswatini. The event, held under the theme "Celebrating Excellence, Inspiring Innovation," will attract around 300 distinguished guests, including six ministers of sport from Region 5 Member Countries, as well as renowned sports legends and celebrities from across the region.