Zambia Under-17 Women’s National Team coach Carol Kanyemba says the Copper Princesses will treat Sunday’s decisive FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia as a fresh contest despite carrying a 2-1 advantage from the first leg.
The Copper Princesses travel to Addis Ababa, seeking to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, which will be staged from 17 October to 7 November 2026, with victory over the two-legged tie set to earn Zambia a third consecutive appearance at the global tournament.
Kanyemba said the team remains fully focused on the task ahead and is determined to finish the job away from home.
“This is a very important fixture because it’s the last hurdle that we have to take us back to the World Cup. We have everything to protect and we need to concentrate as much as possible, get the desired results and give the results that are needed by the country back home,” Kanyemba said.
Kanyemba said the players have been instructed not to dwell on their first-leg victory, warning that doing so could affect their approach to the return encounter.
“I think the win at home is water under the bridge and we are telling the girls to forget about it. The game that we are going to play in Ethiopia will be a totally different game and that’s what will determine how far we go in these qualifiers,” she said.
“So if we carry that lead in our mind that we are leading, it will disturb our game plan. Our game plan is to go and finish the game in Ethiopia, get as many goals as possible and try to defend what we already have.”
Kanyemba on significance of back-to-back qualification
Kanyemba said another World Cup qualification would reflect the steady progress of women’s football in Zambia and inspire the next generation of players.
“Qualifying back to the World Cup will be testament of the development that women’s football has seen in our country. So it will be evident to say that we have been progressing and we have been doing something right and consistent.”
“Because qualifying back to back is not an accident. It shows the development, it shows the consistency that is there. So going back for the third time will be another advantage and to give a lot of hope to the girls that want to play football.”
She added that qualifying again would motivate aspiring footballers across the country.
The winner of the tie will qualify for the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to be held in Morocco.
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