Zambia coach Kanyemba unveil final squad for U17 Women’s FIFA World Cup

The World Cup-bound Zambia Under-17 Women national team has commenced preparations for the tournament with Coach Carol Kanyemba naming 36 players for a local camp that kicks off on Sunday.

Kanyemba has retained the core of the squad that earned the back-to-back ticket to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2025, which will take place from 17 October to 8 November 2025.

Skipper Mercy Chipasula headlines that squad that is expected to be in camp until departure for the tournament next month. The team will have an international camp in the final stages of preparation for the tournament where they are perched in Group F alongside Japan, New Zealand and Paraguay.

Zambia opens its account on 19 October against Paraguay at the Football Academy Mohammed V1 before facing Japan three days later at the same venue with the final group match on 25 October.

The Copper Princesses are making a return to the FIFA World Cup for a record third time having been at the biggest showpiece in 2014, 2024 and 2025. Group F will be based in Salé, which is a city in northwestern Morocco, on the right bank of the Bou Regreg River.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD:

(GOALKEEPERS): Bukata Kakumbia (Police Doves), Loveness Chingwele (Muza Queens), Mary Nyangu (Yasa Queens), Decent Mbewe (National Assembly), Gertrude Nkhoma (Young Green Buffaloes), Winfridah Mutale (Elite Ladies).

(DEFENDERS): Lweendo Hanongo (Driven Queens), Natasha Nkaka (Green Eagles Women), Nana Malanda (Green Buffaloes), Precious Mwape (Luyando Foundation), Gift Mazimba (Elite Ladies), Beatrice Njobvu (Red Arrows Women), Faith Kaunda (ZedPro Academy), Esther Ngabwe (Elite Ladies), Theresa Mubiana (Amazing Grace), Tabith Nyirenda (Driven Queens).

(MIDFIELDERS): Tangon Mubanga (Yasa Queens), Natasha Kasema (Green Buffaloes), Sharon Siakaloba (Pemba Queens), Taonga Tembo (Young Green Buffaloes), Precious Mwewa (Candice Academy), Brenda Mwewa (Nchanga Queens), Leah Mulenga (Chalube Queens), Fiath Kajiya (Elite Ladies), Natasha Chileshe (Zesco Ndola Girls), Esther Makoti (Amazing Grace).

(STRIKERS): Mercy Chipaula (Kamfinsa Blue Eagles), Grace Phiri (Indeni Roses), Masela Sekeseke (Red Arrows Women), Victoria Mbali (Young Green Buffaloes), Hellen Sichamba, Blessings Chiumya, Wendy Mwikisa (all Elite Ladies), Esther Mutinta, Carol Nsondo (both Choma Warriors), Ruth Nakazwe (Bauleni United Sports Academy).

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