FAZ MEDIA | 6th November 2025
Zambia Under-17 head coach Dennis Makinka says his team is fully prepared for a tough encounter against Honduras as they look to book a place in the knockout stages of the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. The Junior Chipolopolo began their campaign in impressive fashion, defeating Indonesia 3-1, and will now aim to maintain their momentum in today’s crucial Group H match.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Makinka acknowledged the challenge posed by Honduras, who are desperate to bounce back after a heavy 7-0 defeat to Brazil in their opening match.
“It’s a difficult game, of course, you know, they are coming from a loss,” Makinka told FAZ Media. “A team that is coming from a loss is very dangerous because, you know when you lose, you realise the many mistakes that you make and correcting them is easy.”
Despite this, the Zambian tactician believes his side’s high morale and strong preparation give them an advantage.
“If you plan well, it’s also easy because their morale is not very high and we are coming from a win. We’ve prepared very well for this game — physically and mentally. We’ve been psyching the boys, especially focusing on mental aspects,” he added.
Zambia sit second in Group H, level on three points with Brazil but behind on goal difference. A win today could see them seal qualification to the Round of 16, depending on other results.
Makinka’s emphasis on teamwork and discipline has been evident since their opening match, with his players showing cohesion and tactical maturity against Indonesia.
Midfielder Nthasilwe Malupande echoed his coach’s cautious optimism, reminding his teammates not to be complacent.
“We have to take every game seriously; it will not be an easy game. We do not have to rely on the win that we won against Indonesia. It is water under the bridge,” he said.
Malupande added that the encounter with Honduras is another opportunity for the young Chipolopolo to showcase their talent on the world stage.
“This game is an opportunity to show what Zambia is capable of,” he concluded.
As Zambia prepare to face Honduras in a crucial FIFA U-17 World Cup tie, confidence and belief are high within the camp. A positive result today would move the Junior Chipolopolo closer to achieving their dream of progressing beyond the group stage and solidifying their reputation as one of Africa’s most exciting youth teams.
