Zambia U17 WNT 11-0 Pataaki Girls (Fridah Mukoma x3, Ruth Muwowo x2, Namute Chileshe Bwalya x2, Mapalo Maluba (P), Ruth Mukoma, Blessings Zangose Zulu, Harriet Matipa)
Zambia U17 Women’s National Team on Tuesday afternoon thrashed Pataaki Girls 11-nil in a warm-up practice match ahead of this weekend’s crunch tie with Uganda in the third round, first leg qualifier of the 2024 Dominican Republic FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup set for National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
It was an amazing performance by the Copper Princesses who were ruthless in front of goal leaving no stone unturned scoring 6 goals in the first half and another 5 in the second half against a Pataaki side that consisted of players from MOPEACE and Automotive Girls forming one team.
Marvellous Girls holding midfielder Mapalo Maluba opened the scores in the opening 5 minutes converting from the penalty spot after Merinda Kombe brought down Green Buffaloes striker Namute Bwalya inside the 18-yard box, with Mapalo stepping up and scoring past Peggie Tembo in goal.
A few minutes later, ZESCO Ndola Girls speedy winger Ruth Mukoma tapped in from close range off a Mercy Chipasula cross and Namute was yet again on the scoresheet as she completed her brace a few minutes later making it 4-nil to Zambia inside the opening 25 minutes.
Pataaki Girls midfielder Blessings Zangose Zulu scored a wonder strike outside the 18-yard box in the top right corner and YASA Queens product Harriet Matipa made it 6-nil from long range with a scorcher just before the break.
After the restart, the Coach Carol Kanyemba Daka led technical bench introduced a whole different team that carried off from were the first left from and it was Amazing Grace goal poacher Ruth Muwowo who dazzled past the Lusaka Select defenders making it 7-nil before ZESCO Ndola Girls speedy winger Fridah Mukoma, sister to Ruth scored a thunderbolt from a tight angle and Muwowo was at it again scoring a ninth goal of the game, her second for the day.
As if that was not enough, The Princesses who controlled the match and dictated proceedings fired another goal courtesy of Fridah with another thunderbolt before she completed her hattrick in the closing stages of the game as the final score ended 11-nil in favor of Zambia.
Zambia U17 Women’s National Team were using this practice match as part of their preparation ahead of Sunday’s historical clash with Uganda to be staged at National Heroes Stadium with lunch time Kick-off at 12h30 with entry charges pegged from as low as K10.
This will be the first time the Zambia U17 will be playing from an ultra modern stadium for their home games having been using Nkoloma Stadium in thr previous game and thr lasses will be hoping to emulate the Copper Queens who qualified to the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games to be held in France for a second successive period.
The return match will be played in Kitende at St. Mary’s Stadium on 17th May, 2024.
The winner between Zambia and Uganda will face either Morocco or Algeria in the final round with the overall aggregate winner Qualified to the FIFA World Cup which will see Dominican Republic hosting this youth World Cup for the U17 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup for the first time from October 16 – November 3, 2024.
By Moses Pedro Mwanza,
The ZamFoot Community Football Reporter
