Carol Kanyemba, coach of Zambia’s U-17 Women’s National Team, is on the verge of becoming the first Zambian female coach to qualify a national team for a FIFA World Cup at any level if the Copper Princesses maintain their 3-1 lead over Morocco next Saturday.
The Copper Princesses moved closer to qualifying for the World Cup after defeating Morocco on Saturday at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
A draw next Saturday will be enough for coach Kanyemba’s girls to advance to the competition. The Dominican Republic will host the tournament in October.
If they qualify, Kanyembo’s name will go down in Zambian football history as the first female coach to achieve the feat.
When asked about the prospect of making history for herself, she said, “It’s not about me but the young girls.”
She added, ” We have told these girls that it’s time to rewrite history. Their friends who featured at the (Under-17) World Cup ten years ago have made it in life, I can say. This is the biggest platform that can really change their lives….. And looking at the number of players going professional, they stand a better chance.”
Kanyemba re-emphasized that “it’s not about me; it’s about them mostly. So they got a chance to change their lives through this game of football by going to the World Cup and being seen by scouts.”
With a 3-1 advantage, Kanyemba wants her girls to remain focused ahead of the second leg. She said the tie “is not yet over.”
Should Zambia qualify, it will be the first time since the Barbra Banda-led group qualified for the 2014 Costa Rica edition.
