Despite losing 1-0 to Tanzania in their last game, Kanyembo’s lasses eliminated the East Africans from the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers race after thrashing them 5-0 in the first leg at home to advance to the third round of the qualifiers with a 5-1 aggregate win.
Kanyembo wants the team to again score many goals at home against Uganda, who they will face in the third qualification round on May 12 at Nkoloma Stadium.
“We picked up our lessons from the first game because we managed to get a lot of goals at home. It became easier for us when we went away so we are going to try and use the same format,” she told reporters on Tuesday morning at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
“We try to bury the game here at home and try to get maximum points and goals as well so that we have an upper hand as we go away. “
Kanyemba has summoned 35 players and challenged them to fight for a place in her final squad, that will face Uganda.
“So far so good. The response from the girls is very positive. We have the team that we travelled with to Tanzania and the newcomers are bringing in good competition as well.
“This is the national team; it has to involve every person; everyone who can participate and compete in this team has got a slot; we are not looking at those who are playing Super League or anything; as long as you have the potential to participate and compete, you will be given a chance,” she added.
Kanyembo aims to write own history with U17 women’s team
The former Copper Queens player is encouraging the Copper Princesses to write their history by qualifying for the World Cup.
“We are giving the girls the message to look at the Babra Banda crop. It was the first team that qualified for the World Cup; they made a name for themselves. We have the same chance to repeat that history. So we are motivating them so that they can be part of the people that will be written about in history books.
“I believe we have enough talent in Zambia that can take us to the World Cup and not only participate but compete even for a better spot at the World Cup,” concluded the coach.
The winner of the two legs between Uganda and Zambia will advance to the fourth and final round of qualifiers, where they will face either Morocco or Algeria for a spot in the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in the Dominican Republic.
Only three African countries will qualify, with Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, Liberia, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria all in the race.
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