Kanyemba sets Zambia target to reach group stages of U17 Women’s World Cup

Zambia women’s national team coach Carol Kanyemba believes they have what it takes to go past the group stages at the U17 women’s World Cup from October 8 in Morocco.

The team which is in Group F alongside Paraguay, Japan and New Zealand will set up base in Morocco where they are expected to play some preparatory matches. Ahead of the tournament, Kanyemba says qualifying to back-to-back FIFA World Cups was a huge achievement with the team aiming to better their 2024 first round exit.

“Definitely it’s a lot of pressure going to the same stage in a space of one year twice. There is a lot of expectation among ourselves and that is what we are working on, telling the girls that a lot is expected from us,” Kanyemba told FAZ Media.

“Last year we went as amateurs, with less knowledge about the game (tournament) and the teams that we played. This year we are going back with a lot of expectations.”

Kanyemba’s aim is to see Zambia go past group stages

On what she wants to achieve in Morocco, Kanyemba said: “Personally, I have an aim to go past the group stage together with girls and that is what we are encouraging the girls to do,” she says.

“I will say preparation is everything. We can be as confident as we are but without high profile games, the first games that we will play at the world cup will be like our friendlies which won’t be good enough and won’t bring anything different.”

Kanyemba added: “There is a lot of competition in the team because the new ones want to go for the first time at the global stage and have something to prove. We want to be better than the team that played last year.

“They want to make a name and be able to perform far much better than the previous edition. The experience of those that were part of the previous edition can be good or bad. If they become complacent, it can be a disadvantage but if they use it to better their lives. I think we are going to have a good performance from the girls.”

Zambia’s opening match is on 19 October against Paraguay at the Football Academy Mohammed VI (Pitch 3) in Sale before facing Japan three days later at the same venue. Their final game will be against New Zealand at the Football Academy Mohammed VI (Pitch 2).

Top two teams in each group will qualify to the knockout stages of the tournament.