Zambia women's national football team is set to play their Olympic qualifier against Ghana on Friday in memory of striker Norin Betani, who tragically passed away at the age of 24 from an undisclosed illness just days before the crucial fixture.
The Zambian Football Association and Betani's club side, Indeni Roses, confirmed her untimely death on Wednesday. Betani had been receiving treatment at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka after falling ill while training with the national team. Despite initially being part of the provisional squad for the Olympic qualifiers, she was unable to make the final team due to her illness.
The team expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Betani and hopes to honor her memory with a victory in the upcoming match against Ghana, a game she had eagerly anticipated being a part of.
Before their encounter with the Black Queens in Accra, Betani's teammates and colleagues paid heartfelt tributes to the promising young player. They observed a moment of silence and offered prayers during their training session in Accra as a mark of respect for their departed teammate.
Zambia's captain, Barbra Banda, acknowledged the difficulty of leading the team in such trying circumstances but emphasized the importance of staying focused on their task at hand. Head coach Bruce Mwape also expressed his shock and sadness at the unexpected news, praising Betani's talent and potential as a player.
Betani had been called up to the Copper Queens squad for the first time in April 2022 for a friendly match against Botswana. Although she did not feature in the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations squad, her talent and dedication had already made her a standout prospect for the national team.
