Kanyemba backs Zambia to lift WAFCON title in Morocco

Zambia U-17 women’s national team coach Carol Kanyemba has thrown her weight behind the senior team to lift the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) trophy in Morocco.

Zambia have already qualified for the last eight after finishing second with seven points, the same as Group A leaders and hosts Morocco. They started off their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Morocco, recovered to beat Senegal 3-2 before edging out DR Congo 1-0.

They have now been drawn to face nine-time champions Nigeria in the quarterfinals at Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, Morocco on Friday. The fixture will be a rematch of the 2022 bronze medal match where Zambia won 1-0.

“Zambia started on a low note against Morocco,” said Kanyemba as quoted by Bola News. “It was a game that Zambia was supposed to carry home. Unfortunately, they didn’t, and that brought some doubts in the team.

“But going forward into the tournament, the team has been improving.

“[The game against Congo] has been evidence of the improvements that have been seen. “Everyone is positive that they will be able to deliver. Because reaching that far shows that you can really go further than that.’

Kanyemba concluded, “With a lot of effort put in, definitely we will be able to see Zambia in the finals.…… And definitely carry the trophy back home.”

Heading into the last eight contest, Nigeria hold a good record against Zambia, having beaten them 6-0 in 2014 and 4-0 in 2018 in the same competition.