In a repeat of last year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, Zambia’s Copper Princesses will face off against Tanzania’s Serengeti Girls on Sunday in Dar Es Salaam.
Last year, Carol Kanyemba’s team suffered a 1-0 loss in Tanzania, but they advanced to the next round with a 5-1 aggregate victory as they recorded an emphatic 5-0 win in the first leg.
Ahead of this weekend’s clash with Tanzania in the qualifiers for the 2025 edition, scheduled to be held between October 17 and November 8 in Morocco, defender Natasha Nkaka, who missed last year’s tournament in the Dominican Republic, is confident that the team can win in Dar Es Salaam.
“The first leg we played in Zambia last year, we won 5-0. Then, in the second leg here in Tanzania, we lost 1-0. The game was tough because they were playing at home. This time, the first leg is in Tanzania, so it will be difficult as well. We just need to work extra hard with the coaches, and as players, we’re confident we can do it. We believe in ourselves,” said the 17-year-old.
Nkaka Eager To Play At World Cup
Nkaka also mentioned how the coaches had been motivating the team ahead of the match.
“The coaches have been encouraging us, saying we’ve been playing friendly games with boys, so our mentality has been lifted. We believe we can beat Tanzania because it’s not easy playing against boys. They gave us a tough challenge, but we were able to handle it. So, we’re confident we’ll beat Tanzania.
Nkaka is also eager to score against Tanzania and is confident the team will qualify for the World Cup.
“We’re aiming for the World Cup. We’re determined, and we believe in ourselves. We’re going to make Zambia proud, and our coaches will be proud to see that their efforts are paying off.
“As for me, personally, I’m going to make it, and I’ll score—not just because I’m a defender, but because I’m going to score for the team. As a team, on behalf of my teammates, we’re going to win, and we will return to the World Cup.”
READ MORE: Copper Princesses coach Carol Kanyemba speaks ahead of Tanzania clash
