Zambia coach Bruce Mwape has named a 29-member provisional squad for this month’s 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifier against Malawi.

Mwape has named five players plying their trade abroad, with China-based skipper Barbara Banda included alongside Kazakhstani based midfielder Prisca Chilufya and the Spain-based duo of Rachael Nachula and Rachael Kundananji.

They will join the majority of Copper Queens players from the bronze medal winning 2021 COSAFA Women’s Championship who have not broken camp since returning from South Africa on Sunday.

The Copper Queens will face Malawi on October 20 at the Bingu National stadium in Lilongwe before hosting the Scorchers in the return leg at Nkoloma stadium six days later.

Winner of the first-round tie will face either Tanzania or Namibia in the second and final qualifying round of the 12th edition of the AWCON billed for Morocco from July 2-23, 2022.

Zambia provisional squad:

Goalkeepers: Hazel Nali (Hapoel Be’er Sheva-Israel), Ng’ambo Musole (Zesco Ndola Girls), Catherine Musonda (Indeni Roses), Eunice Sakala (Nkwazi Queens)

Defenders: Patricia Lampi (YASA Girls), Margaret Belemu, Mary Mulenga (both Red Arrows), Vast Phiri  (Zesco Ndola Girls), Martha Tembo, Agness Musesa, Lushomo Mweemba (all Green Buffaloes), Rhodah Nakanyika, Margaret Mulenga (both Lusaka Dynamos)

Midfielders: Rachael Kundananji (SD Eibar-Spain), Avell Chitundu (Zesco Ndola Girls), Rachael Nachula (Zaragoza CFF-Spain), Esther Namukwasa (Indeni Roses), Evarine Susan Katongo (Luyando Girls Foundation), Prisca Chilufya (BIIK Kazygurt-Kazakhstan), Pumulo Lubasi (Green Buffaloes), Mary Wilombe, Milika Limwanya (both Red Arrows), Elizabeth Mupeso (Lusaka Dynamos)

Strikers: Barbara Banda (Shanghai Shengli -China), Lungowe Namasiku (ZISD), Grace Chanda, Ochumba Oseke Lubanji (both Red Arrows), Maylan Mulenga (Green Buffaloes), Xiomala Mapepa (Lusaka Dynamos)