Ruth Mukoma, a striker for Zambia’s U-17 Women’s National Team, has excited her coach, Carol Kanyembo, after scoring on her debut in the first leg of the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Mukoma, the first female footballer from Mwinilunga district in Northwestern Province to play for the national team at any level, scored the Copper Pincesses’ second goal in a 2-0 victory over Uganda at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka on Sunday.

When she was first called to the national team, the former Kansanshi Queens FC player, who now plays for Zesco Ndola Girls FC, acknowledged how difficult it is to break into the national team but promised to give her all and impress.

“Competition is there but I will try to do my best and work with everyone here. At Zesco, I have played many games but I want to play for the national team and also be like Barbra Banda,” she told FAZ media.

“I was personally impressed”- Kayembo

The speedy striker went on to impress Kanyembo, who believes she will improve and become an important player for her team after her debut.

“Well, I was personally impressed with Mukoma,” Kanyembo said in an interview. “She started on a law note in the first half, as you said, being a debutant, she didn’t know what to do and we talked to her at halftime. We tried to encourage her and fortunately enough, she was able to pick up and manage to get a goal in her debut, which is a plus.

“So even going to this game, I think she’s now becoming used, she’s opening up and she’ll really be a great addition to our team even as we go into the reverse feature. So she had promised to get two goals at Heroes, but she just manged to score once and then she has promised to get another goal as we go to Uganda.”

The Copper Princesses will look to seal qualification for the fourth and final round of the qualifiers on Friday at the St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende, Uganda. 

Should they maintain their lead, Kanyembo’s side will face either Morocco or Algeria, whose first leg ended 4-0 in favour of the former.