Bruce Mwape, the head coach of the Zambia Women's National Team, has announced the 35-member provisional squad for the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Australia and New Zealand from July 20th to August 20th, 2023. Mwape's squad consists of 22 locally-based players and 13 who ply their trade abroad. The team will assemble for a local training camp on June 3rd before heading to Germany for an international camp as they prepare for the highly anticipated women's football spectacle. Two key defenders, Lushomo Mweemba and Esther Banda, have made it to Mwape's roster after recovering from injuries that kept them out of club and national team action for six weeks. Their return bolsters the team's defensive options and provides valuable experience. Several players have earned recalls to the squad after missing out on the previous international outings against Turkey and South Korea. Jacqueline Nkole of Indeni Roses, Maylan Mulenga from Green Buffaloes Women's Football Club, Regina Chanda of ZANACO Ladies, and the ZESCO Ndola Girls duo of Letisha Lungu and Avell Chitundu are among those who have been given another chance to represent their country. The Copper Queens, find themselves in Group C for their maiden Women's World Cup appearance. They will kick off their campaign against Japan on July 22nd, followed by a match against Spain four days later, and their final group-stage game against Costa Rica on July 31st. To fine-tune their preparations ahead of the FIFA World Cup, the Copper Queens will set up their base in Furth, Germany. While there, they will engage in high-profile friendly matches against the Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, and Germany, providing them with valuable exposure and tough competition before the tournament. Here is the breakdown of the provisional squad selected by Bruce Mwape: Goalkeepers: - Catherine Musonda (Tomiris-Turan-Kazakhstan) - Eunice Sakala (Nkwazi Queens) - Hazel Nali (Fatih Vatan Sport-Turkey) - Chitete Munsaka (Elite Ladies) - Letisha Lungu (ZESCO Ndola Girls) Defenders: - Margaret Belemu (Shanghai Shengli-China) - Martha Tembo (BIIK Kazygurt Shymkent-Kazakhstan) - Lushomo Mweemba, Agness Musesa, Esther Siamfuko (all Green Buffaloes) - Pauline Zulu, Esther Banda (BUSA) - Judith Soko (YASA) - Jackline Nkole (Indeni Roses) - Mary Mulenga (Red Arrows) - Vast Phiri (ZESCO Ndola Girls) Midfielders: - Comfort Selemani (Elite Ladies) - Misozi Zulu (Hakkarigucu Spur-Turkey) - Ireen Lungu, Hellen Chanda (both BIIK Kazygurt Shymkent-Kazakhstan) - Evarine Susan Katongo (ZISD Women) - Mary Wilombe, Susan Banda (both Red Arrows) - Rhoda Chileshe (Indeni Roses) - Prisca Chilufya (Fatih Karagumruk A.S-Turkey) - Avell Chitundu (ZESCO Ndola Girls) Strikers: - Xiomara Mapepa (Elite Ladies] -Ochumba Oseke Lubanji (Red Arrows) -Regina Chanda (ZANACO Ladies), -Hellen Mubanga, Rachael Nachula (both Zaragoza CFF-Spain), -Grace Chanda, Rachael Kundananji (both Madrid CFF-Spain), -Barbra Banda (Shanghai Shengli-China), - Maylan Mulenga (Green Buffaloes)