By Angela Bambala Bwalya
Zambia Under-17 women’s national team coach Carol Kanyemba has urged her players to maintain their fighting spirit as they prepare for their final Group D match against France at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026.
The Copper Princesses suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Venezuela on Wednesday, October 21, conceding a stoppage-time goal after twice taking the lead. However, Kanyemba believes the performance offered encouragement despite the disappointing result.
Zambia looked on course for a positive result after Elizabeth Mofya opened the scoring in the fourth minute before G. Phiri restored their advantage in the 55th minute.
Venezuela had equalised through Ojeda in the 12th minute and drew level again through Duran in the 64th, before Suárez struck deep into stoppage time to secure all three points.
Reflecting on the defeat, Kanyemba praised her players’ attitude, tactical discipline and resilience but admitted that a loss of composure in the closing stages proved costly.
“First and foremost, I want to say thank you to God. I return the glory to Him. The 3-2 scoreline is not really a reflection of the performance we had today. The girls had the right attitude, and we did almost everything right,” she said.
“Instead of concentrating in the dying minutes, I think we panicked a bit, which led to the third goal we conceded.”
Despite the late setback, Kanyemba was encouraged by the improvements in her side’s defensive organisation and attacking transitions, urging the players to carry the same determination into their final group fixture.
“We tried to be as compact as possible at the back, and we also transitioned well in attack. I believe we shall encourage them to maintain the same attitude they brought into today’s game because they showed a lot of character,” she added.
Zambia now face a difficult test against former champions France on Saturday, but Kanyemba insists her side will approach the encounter with confidence and a determination to demonstrate their ability on the world stage.
“We respect France; it is a big name, but we are also here to show our abilities. I believe the girls are looking forward to continuing to show their strength and abilities,” she said.
“Everything is possible in football. We shall play our game, and whatever we have been training, we shall implement.”
Japan lead Group D on six points, with France and Venezuela level on three points each, while Zambia are still searching for their first points of the tournament.
The Copper Princesses face an uphill battle in their final group match, but Kanyemba is determined to keep her players focused on the task ahead while recognising the value of the experience gained at international level.
“If the worst comes to the worst and we don’t make it, we appreciate God for allowing us to reach this far, and we pray that the girls continue developing in the game. Thank you so much for their continued support,” she said.
Zambia will face France on Saturday, October 24, at 18:00 hours in their final Group D fixture, with the Copper Princesses aiming to end their campaign on a positive note.
