Zambia Under-15 boys’ national team coach Brian Kunsanama says his side are ready to make the most of their opportunity at the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The Junior Chipolopolo departed Lusaka on Tuesday evening for the tournament, which runs from 24 to 31 October, with Kunsanama confident that two weeks of preparation have put his players in a position to compete.
“The team is ready. We have been with them for 14 days,” Kunsanama said.
The tournament introduces an eight-a-side format, with matches played over two 20-minute halves. Kunsanama welcomed the initiative, saying the smaller-sided game could help accelerate the development of young footballers.
“This is a newly introduced Under-15 eight-a-side tournament, and it is good that FIFA has realised that the boys should play in a small-sided game, which will help them develop quicker,” he added.
Kunsanama also acknowledged the expectations of Zambian football supporters, pledging that his team would give its best on the international stage.
“I know Zambians demand a lot when it comes to football, so we will give it our best,” he said.
Zambia are among 191 FIFA Member Associations represented at the event, which has been designed to give young players from across the world access to international competition, regardless of their country’s footballing status.
The competition will feature nearly 1,000 matches, with teams playing an initial round-robin qualification stage before progressing into one of six performance tiers based on their results.
Each team is expected to play at least eight or nine matches across the two stages, providing players with sustained competitive experience. The winners of each tier will be crowned, with the Tier A winners recognised as the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival champions.
Unlike conventional youth World Cups, the festival places a strong emphasis on player development, using shorter matches and a small-sided format to encourage more involvement on the ball.
For Zambia, the tournament represents an opportunity for Kunsanama’s young players to measure themselves against international opposition while gaining experience that could prove valuable in their future football careers.
The Junior Chipolopolo will be hoping their 14-day preparation provides a solid foundation as they take their first steps into the global competition.
