The Zambia Under-20 Women’s National Team has been knocked out of the FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup Poland 2026 qualifiers following a narrow defeat in the second leg of their qualifying tie.
A 1–0 loss proved decisive, ending Zambia’s campaign at this stage of the competition.
Zambia’s exit was confirmed after Uganda secured a 2–1 aggregate victory over the two legs. The decisive second-leg encounter saw Uganda edge the Young Copper Queens by a solitary goal, enough to seal progression.
The result marks a disappointing end to Zambia’s qualification hopes, as the team had shown promise throughout the campaign. However, fine margins ultimately determined the outcome, with Uganda proving more clinical over the two fixtures.
The Uganda Under-20 Women’s National Team, popularly known as the Queen Cranes, now advance to the next round of the qualifiers. They will face either Ghana who beat South Africa 1 – 0 and 2-1 on aggregate as they continue their quest for a place at the FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup Poland 2026.
For Zambia, attention now shifts to rebuilding and assessing areas of improvement as preparations begin for future international competitions.
Zambia’s dream of qualifying for the FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup Poland 2026 has come to an end after a closely contested tie against Uganda. While elimination is a setback, the experience gained will be vital for the development of the young squad moving forward.
