Zambia Under-17 Women’s National Team head coach Carol Kanyemba says her side is eyeing maximum points as they begin their FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup campaign against Paraguay tonight in Morocco.

The Group F encounter kicks off at 21:00 CAT, while the other group match between Japan and New Zealand gets underway at 15:00 CAT.

Speaking ahead of the match, Kanyemba said the players were mentally and physically prepared to give their best performance in their opening fixture.

She expressed confidence in her young side’s readiness to translate their hard work in training into a strong showing on the pitch.

“So far, so good. The girls have been putting in extra effort and are looking forward to this game. As coaches, we are eager to see if they can implement what they have learned—their technical abilities and tactical understanding of the game,” she said.

“Our main focus is getting maximum points. We shall use everything we have to win this game. It’s not going to be easy, but we’ve psyched our players to believe in themselves. We are at this stage because we are as good as our opponents, and we’ve taught the girls that if they can do it, we can do it better.”

“The girls are motivated” – Kanyemba.

Kanyemba emphasized that the team’s participation at this level was both a test of progress and an opportunity to showcase Zambia’s growing talent on the global stage.

“This tournament brings together the best of the best, and for us to make a name, we must stand tall and perform highly. The girls are motivated, especially seeing two of their teammates nominated among Africa’s young players of the year. That recognition shows we’re moving in the right direction,” she added.

Kanyemba stressed the importance of belief and determination.

“We’ve prepared them physically and psychologically.We know they can fight anyone and conquer anyone if they stay confident.”

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