Zambia’s Copper Princesses opened their 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 loss to Brazil on Friday morning Felix Sanchez Stadium.
The Copper Princesses, who are competing in their first U-17 tournament since 2014, started brightly, but Brazil struck first in the 19th minute throug Juju after being set up by Kalemba Bellini with a cutback.
Zambian keeper Mwila Mufunte was excellent, and she did well to deny Juju a second before Brazilian keeper Ana Morganti made a spectacular stoppage time save to deny Blessing Maluba, securing the tight victory that propels them to the top of Group D.
Carol Kanyemba, the first Zambian female coach at a World Cup, was pleased with her team’s performance, citing their ability to attack.
“The fact that we were able to attack and only concede once shows we have what it takes,” Kanyemba said after the game via FIFA media. “We tried our best but our best wasn’t good enough, we slept for one second so hard luck indeed and it’s now back to the drawing board where we have to take maximum points in the next match [against Poland].”
In the other game in Group D, Japan and Poland played to a goalless draw, leaving Zambia bottom of the group with no point follow the defeat.
Kanyemba’s side will play Poland in their next game on Monday morning.
