Copper Princesses forward Elizabeth Mofya has appealed to football fans across Zambia to continue supporting the team as the country’s U17 women’s national side prepares for a crucial final Group D encounter against France at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026.
Despite suffering back-to-back defeats, Mofya remains hopeful that Zambia can respond positively when the two sides meet on Saturday, 24 October, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00 CAT. The forward believes the team still has an opportunity to show its quality and is urging supporters not to lose faith ahead of the decisive fixture.
The Copper Princesses suffered a painful 3-2 defeat to Venezuela on Wednesday after twice taking the lead through Precious Mwewa and Grace Phiri. However, a late lapse in concentration allowed Venezuela to score a stoppage-time winner, leaving Zambia without a point despite an encouraging attacking display.
Reflecting on the match, Mofya acknowledged that missed chances and a loss of concentration in the closing stages contributed to the disappointing outcome.
“What I can say is that the name of the game is lose, draw, and win,” Mofya said. “We planned well in the first half and missed some chances, but we equalized when we came back for the second half. We scored, but in the last ten minutes, we lost concentration.”
Attention has now shifted to France, with Mofya recognising that Zambia face another difficult challenge against opponents who will also be fighting to progress from the group. She stressed that the team understands the importance of the encounter and must work hard to give itself the best possible chance.
“The game will not be easy. France also want to win, and we want to go to the next stage,” she said. “What I can say is that we will work hard because that game will determine whether we go through to another stage.”
With Zambia having lost their opening two group matches, Saturday’s fixture presents an important opportunity for the Copper Princesses to respond and finish their group-stage campaign with a positive performance. Mofya believes the unpredictability of football means the team must continue fighting rather than surrendering hope.
“We have lost two games, but anything can happen in the game we play against France. Keep supporting us and don’t lose faith,” she urged.
Mofya’s message is also directed at supporters back home, whose encouragement she hopes will continue despite the team’s difficult results. As the Copper Princesses prepare for their final Group D match, Zambia will be looking to show resilience, improve their concentration and deliver a performance that reflects their determination to compete on the world stage.
