U-20 WWC (Q): Zambia aim is to beat Uganda – Jesse Zulu

Zambia Under-20 women’s national team star Jesse Zulu says her team is aiming to emulate the FIFA World Cup appearances for the under-17 and Copper Queens.

In an interview with the FAZ Media Team, Zulu said winning in Kampala will be crucial in keeping their world cup dreams alive ahead of the return leg a week later in the third-round qualifier of the Poland 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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FIFA U-20 Women World Cup Qualifiers: Uganda vs Zambia at FUFA Stadium, Kadiba.#WomenFootballUG pic.twitter.com/89ijnjnxr1

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The 19-year-old who earned a yearlong scholarship in Spain in 2023, for her exploits at the 2022 Region V Games in Malawi has been making steady strides in the game graduating to the U20 class.

Winner will play either Ghana or South Africa

“We are putting in maximum effort, when we go to Uganda; our aim is to win big in the first leg because they will have home advantage,” said the Green Buffaloes Women Football Club defender.

“We want to be the first ones to qualify for the U-20 women world cup and put Zambia on the world map.”

In 2023, Zulu was among three standout starlets from Zambia that clinched a one-year La Liga Talents program scholarship, a unique academic sports initiative.

The trio consisted of Esther Musialela (Solwezi Queens Academy) Zulu (Green Buffaloes) and Theresa Musatila (Zesco Ndola Girls) who had caught the attention of scouts during the 2022 Region VI Games in Malawi. They were integral members of the Zambia Under-17 Women’s National Team, which clinched a silver medal at the event.

For their exploits, the trio earned a scholarship that kept them at the ESC Centre and NBA in Villaviciosa de Odon, Madrid in 2023.

Zambia will clash with Uganda on February 7 in Kampala before hosting the East Africans week later in Ndola in the third round of the Poland 2026 U-20 FIFA World Cup.

Winner over two legs will play either Ghana or South Africa in the final round with a ticket for Poland up for grabs.