Zambia Aims to Seal U17 Women’s World Cup Qualification Against Tanzania
Zambia’s U17 women’s national team is on the brink of securing a place in the final qualifying round for the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup as they host Tanzania at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday. After securing an emphatic 3-0 first-leg victory away in Tanzania, the young Copper Queens are in a commanding position. However, coach Carol Kanyemba has warned her players against complacency, emphasizing that football is unpredictable.
Kanyemba Cautions Against Overconfidence
Despite Zambia’s strong advantage, Coach Carol Kanyemba has urged her team to remain focused, warning them that football has produced shocking comebacks in the past.
“We appreciate the 3-0 win and we know that sometimes it gets to the players’ heads. But as precedent has shown, there have been cases where a team records a big away win but loses at home,” Kanyemba said.
The coach emphasized that Tanzania will be eager to restore their pride after their heavy defeat at home, making them a dangerous opponent in the return leg.
“We are using those past experiences to remind the girls that anything is possible in football. People come with different mindsets, and we must be prepared,” she added.
First Match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium
Saturday’s game will be Zambia’s first match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in this qualification campaign, having previously played in Lusaka. Coach Kanyemba believes this presents an opportunity to win over the passionate Copperbelt football fans.
“We need this more than Tanzania because everyone has been pushing us and backing us up. We are not ready to disappoint our fans,” she said.
The team is well aware of the high expectations and has promised to deliver a strong performance to secure their progression to the next round.
Possible Final Opponent – Benin or DR Congo
Zambia’s potential opponent in the final round of qualification will be Benin, who secured a 2-0 first-leg victory against DR Congo ahead of their return leg this Sunday. Should Zambia advance, they will face the winner of that tie in April, with a spot at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco (October 17 – November 8) at stake.
Conclusion
With a comfortable 3-0 aggregate lead, Zambia heads into Saturday’s match as clear favorites. However, Coach Kanyemba has stressed the importance of staying focused and respecting Tanzania’s fightback potential. A disciplined performance at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium will see Zambia take another crucial step toward their dream of qualifying for the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.
