Zambia U17 Women’s National Team coach Carol Kanyemba says the technical bench has done its part ahead of Saturday’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup final round, return leg qualifier against Benin.
With the memory of Zambia’s historic qualification to the last edition of the World Cup held in the Dominican Republic still fresh, Kanyemba admits the expectations are higher this time around, and the pressure is on both from supporters and from within the squad itself.
Zambia carries a 2-1 first-leg advantage heading into Saturday’s match at 17h00CAT at the Stade de Kegue in Togo.
“There is a lot of pressure because a lot is expected of us. The fact that we qualified for the previous World Cup adds to that pressure, and Benin will be coming into this game motivated to make history by qualifying for the first time,” Kanyemba said.
Although the match will be played on neutral ground in Lome, Kanyemba acknowledged that Benin’s geographical advantage still gives them a slight edge. Despite this, the history-making coach remains confident in her team’s preparation and ability.
“Tactically, we have given the players the information they need. We have worked on finishing, which was our biggest concern in the last match, and reminded the girls to believe in themselves, make the right decisions and stay confident,” Kanyemba said.
With the Copper Princesses having conceded an away goal in the first leg in Ndola, Kanyemba emphasized the importance of not conceding and being clinical in front of goal.
“In this situation, all we need are goals. We need to avoid conceding because the goal we let in at home increased the pressure on us,” she said.
Kanyemba also explained the value of good game management from the technical bench, especially in terms of timely substitutions that can shift momentum in Zambia’s favour.
“As coaches, we need to read the game well and make changes at the right time to see if the subs can bring the positive impact we need.”
Beyond qualification, Kanyemba believes a second consecutive FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup appearance would have a massive impact on the development of girls’ football in Zambia.
“Qualifying back-to-back would give a lot of hope to girls across the country. It shows that you can come from your community and reach the biggest stage,” she said.
Kanyemba pointed to the example of captain Mercy Chipasula, who used her World Cup experience to graduate to the senior national team, where she is already making headlines with goals and assists for the Copper Queens.
“It all came from her World Cup experience. We may not have had the best outing last time, but the growth and intelligence we have seen in these players since returning is clear. Players like Mercy (Chipasula) are role models now. They are proof that with hard work, you can make it in football. We continue to add value to women’s football which continues to be on the rise.”
By FAZ Media
