Bauleni United Sports Academy prodigy Hildah Kangwa and Luyando Foundation Girls defender Catherine Hichombolwa headline a 36-member provisional squad named by coach ahead of Zambia’s Morocco 2026 qualifiers.
Kangwa arrives in camp riding a wave of outstanding form after being named Player of the Tournament at the | Qualifier South Africa 2025.
Hichombolwa, meanwhile, has been one of the standout revelations in the Zambia Premier League Women’s Super League, earning her first call-up at this level.
Also included are Candice striker Dorcas Mulosha, Elite Ladies goalkeeper Winfridah Mutale, and her teammate Loveness Daka, as the technical bench begins the process of rebuilding following the graduation of several key players to the U20 national team.
Among those who have moved on after helping Zambia qualify for the 2024 and 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cups are Mercy Chipasula, Masela Sekeseke, Mapalo Maluba, Blessings Zangose Zulu and Lweendo Hanongo.
Qualification Path
The Copper Princesses will face away between April 10–12 in the first leg of the opening round, before hosting the East Africans a week later.
The winner of the Rwanda–Zambia tie will advance to face either or , with a decisive final round potentially featuring Malawi, South Sudan, Ethiopia or Burundi.
Africa has four qualification slots, with hosts already assured of a place after securing hosting rights for five consecutive editions.
Zambia’s U-17 World Cup Pedigree
Zambia has made back-to-back appearances at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup — 2024 in the and 2025 in Morocco.
The Copper Princesses’ debut appearance came in 2014, when a golden generation featuring Barbra Banda, Grace Chanda, Hazel Nali, Martha Tembo and Ireene Lungu announced themselves on the global stage in .
Full Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers
- Winfridah Mutale (Elite Ladies)
- Carol Mweetwa (Barts FC)
- Deborah Phiri (Canaan Sports Foundation)
Defenders
- Patrina Moonga (Kalomo Queens)
- Salome Nalwimba (Sporting Dove)
- Ruth Nachivula (Driven Queens)
- Fatima Chuulu (Nampundwe Queens)
- Catherine Kapolyo (Amazing Grace)
- Loveness Daka (Young Elite Ladies)
- Chricencia Phiri (Radar Queens)
- Monica Chikonde (Aguila Stars)
- Evarine Lukwanda (Canaan Sports Foundation)
- Natasha Mwanza (Forest Rangers Women)
- Peace Muleya (Pemba Queens)
- Catherine Hichombolwa (Luyando Foundation)
Midfielders
- Grace Simangolwa (Lusaka Sky Sports)
- Phalesi Fitili (Luanshya Arts Sports Academy)
- Ethel Njobvu (Young Green Buffaloes)
- Astridah Musonda (Lunchu Queens)
- Naomi Banda (Power Dynamos)
- Catherine Namitondo (Nampundwe Queens)
- Matildah Hambulo (National Assembly)
- Daleen Mbewe (Misisi Queens)
- Charity Chileshe (Maina Soko Queens)
Strikers
- Hildah Kangwa (Bauleni United Sports Academy)
- Fridah Munsanje (Barts Queens)
- Dorcas Mulosha (Candice)
- Sharon Lweendo (Ingwe Girls)
- Patience Mulenga (Blue Young Stars Girls)
- Vwanganji Nampemba (Blue Young Stars Girls)
- Agness Ondya (Young Green Buffaloes)
- Blessings Mutale (Young Green Buffaloes)
- Beatrice Chipupula (Aguila Stars)
- Luyando Banda (Aguila Stars)
- Ndashe Mupeta (Power Dynamos)
- Josephine Changa Changa (Nchanga Rangers Queens)
