Zambia coach Carol Kanyemba is optimistic about securing a historic away victory in the 2024 U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers as they prepare to face Uganda in the third round, second leg match in Kitende. The crucial encounter will take place at St. Mary’s Stadium with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 CAT.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Thursday morning, Kanyemba emphasized her team’s resolve to achieve their first win in East Africa after falling short against Tanzania in the previous round. Despite a resounding 5-0 home victory, Zambia lost 1-0 away but advanced with a 5-1 aggregate.
“We lost our game against Tanzania because of a few things that we have worked on. Coming to this game, we have corrected the mistakes and we pray that we turn the tables by doing much better than we did last time,” Kanyemba stated.
Kanyemba highlighted the team’s preparation and readiness for the match, drawing inspiration from the achievements of the senior national team, the Copper Queens.
“Our girls are really inspired by the senior team that has achieved a lot in recent years and they want to emulate what the Copper Queens have done,” Kanyemba added.
The Copper Princesses lead 2-0 from the first leg, thanks to goals from Namute Chileshe and Ruth Mukoma. Captain Blessing Zangose Zulu expressed the team’s readiness to replicate their performance and secure a spot in the fourth round.
“We are very much ready, and we have already worked on our mistakes with my teammates. The morale is very high, and we are very much ready for Friday’s game,” Zulu said.
The winner of this tie will face either Morocco or Algeria in the fourth and final round, competing for a coveted spot at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic. Morocco currently holds a commanding 4-0 lead from their first leg.
As the Copper Princesses prepare for this crucial match, the team’s focus remains on overcoming their past challenges and achieving a landmark victory that could propel them closer to their World Cup dreams.
