Zambia’s U-17 Women’s National Team head coach, Carol Kanyemba, has stated her team’s goals for the forthcoming FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.

She says her team wants to do better than when the country made its debut in the 2014 edition in Costa Rica.

Kanyemba has also announced her final 21-member squad for the tournament, highlighting her belief in the team’s potential to set new records.

A notable absentee from the final squad is Natasha Nkaka and Fridah Mukoma. The duo impressed many during the qualification campaign. However, Kanyemba explained that the selection was based on performance and hard work, ensuring that the final squad was the best representation of the nation’s talent.

“Every player that has been picked in the final squad deserves to be here. We believe in them, and they will be able to deliver,” she said.

Drawn in a tough Group D, Zambia will face powerhouses like Brazil, Japan, and Poland. Despite the challenge, Kanyemba remains confident in her squad’s ability to compete and produce results.

“We came up with this squad based on performance and for the betterment of the nation,” she said. “Our aim is to deliver to the nation what is expected, especially with women’s football on the rise.

Zambia won one match and lost two in their 2014 debut, but Kanyemba is confident that her current squad is capable of delivering better results.

“Even as we go for our second World Cup appearance at the U-17 level, we aim to set a better record than what we set in 2014.”

Although the team lacked international friendlies during their preparations, Kanyemba spoke of the fierce competition for spots in the squad. She praised the players’ effort and commitment during the extended local camp in Lusaka, emphasizing the technical bench’s trust in the final group.

“Everyone was pushing for a slot in the final squad. We are happy with the team that we have chosen,” Kanyemba remarked.

Zambia will kick off their campaign against Brazil on 18 October, followed by clashes with Poland on 20 October and Japan on 23 October. The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will run from 16 October to 4 November. 

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