By Bola Yapa Zed | 23rd October, 2025
Zambia’s journey at the Morocco 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup came to a painful end after a 2–0 defeat to Japan in their second Group F encounter at the Football Academy Mohammed VI Sports Complex in Rabat. Despite showing courage and defensive organization in the first half, the Copper Princesses succumbed to the relentless pressure of the reigning Asian champions, who sealed their second consecutive win to advance to the knockout stages.
From the onset, Japan imposed their signature high-pressing and quick-passing style, forcing Zambia to sit deep and defend compactly. The Copper Princesses, however, stood their ground for much of the first half, with goalkeeper Mary Nyangu making several crucial saves to keep the game level at the break.
After the restart, Japan’s persistence paid off when Hanoka Sunaga broke the deadlock in the 69th minute, finishing off a well-worked team move that exposed Zambia’s defense. Eleven minutes later, Noa Fukushima converted a penalty to double the lead, ending Zambia’s hopes of a comeback. The result marked Japan’s second straight World Cup win over Zambia, following their 4–1 triumph at the 2024 edition.
Despite the loss, the Copper Princesses showed flashes of improvement compared to their opening 2–1 defeat to Paraguay. Their transitions in attack were quicker, and the midfield duo of Mercy Chipasula and Victoria Mbali worked tirelessly to regain possession and launch counterattacks. However, lapses in concentration and technical errors in the second half proved costly once again.
The defeat extended Zambia’s losing run at the tournament to five consecutive matches, underlining the gap in experience between the young Zambian side and seasoned opponents like Japan. Still, their resilience and fighting spirit were evident, offering hope for the team’s development beyond this World Cup campaign.
Head coach Carol Kanyemba praised her players for their improved performance and emphasized that the focus remains on growth and experience.
“It has results because we lost the game, but football being what it is, we’ve gained momentum from the first match,” said Kanyemba. “The girls put in excellent effort. We lost concentration at a crucial moment, but this is a developmental stage — we’re growing as a team.”
Kanyemba pointed out that defensive communication and focus will be areas of emphasis as the team prepares for its final group game.
The Copper Princesses will wrap up their group stage campaign with a clash against New Zealand on Saturday. With two losses from two matches, Zambia’s hopes of progressing to the Round of 16 are over, but the game presents an opportunity for the young squad to restore pride and gain valuable experience on the world stage.
Kanyemba says her side will approach the final match with determination.
“We’re going to give it our all. The girls are positive and want to push until the last game,” she said. “If we get a good result, we’ll be grateful; if not, we’ll take lessons from it and keep improving.”
While Zambia’s campaign at the Morocco 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup ends earlier than hoped, the experience will serve as a vital learning curve for the emerging generation of Copper Princesses. Coach Kanyemba and her players have shown resilience, growth, and a willingness to learn — qualities that will strengthen the foundations of Zambia’s women’s football in years to come.
