Zambia Under-17 Women’s team captain Mercy Chipasula has revealed the team’s goal ahead of this weekend’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup second-round qualifier against Tanzania.
The Copper Princesses will travel to Tanzania for the first leg before hosting the return match in Ndola.
In an interview, Chipasula acknowledged that the upcoming match will be challenging, despite their previous record against Tanzania.
She stressed the importance of her teammates staying focused on the qualifier and not getting distracted by their victory at the Dominican Republic tournament last year.
“Training is going well; we are working hard. We just need to have confidence in each and every player,” she stated.
“Last time we scored five against them, they would want to take revenge for what we did against them. It will be a challenging match away, requiring us to concentrate and prepare thoroughly not only for the away game but also for the home match.”
Chipasula, who recently made her senior women’s team debut, has called for unity among the squad.
“I just need to encourage my teammates so that they can have confidence and they can play in the senior national team,” she stated.
It’s a privilege – Johnson
Meanwhile, England-based midfielder Jessica Cholwe Johnson emphasized the intense competition and challenges she faced in securing a spot in the final squad for the match against Tanzania.
The Aston Villa midfielder, who is set to make her debut, added that the camp has been physically demanding, but she has adapted well to the conditions.
“This team is very hardworking; it’s tough; you need to work hard in this team to win. Obviously, it’s hard competition to be in the top 25. I just need to work hard; it’s very tough, very physical. It’s a quiet privilege to be here,” Johnson said.
She added, “It’s critical for us and for the country to represent and to win. Just the feeling of winning, it’s great. I think concentration is a big thing; it’s not our home ground, so we need to play as a team.”
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