Zambia U17 Women’s National Team captain Mercy Chipasula says the team needs to work hard to get past their FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers second round opponents, Tanzania.
The Copper Princesses will face Tanzania on Sunday, 9 March in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup second round, first leg at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam.
The return leg is set for Saturday, 15 March 2025, at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Chipasula is expecting a tough match away in Tanzania.
“Training is going, everyone is working hard. We just have to trust each other and work hard. We beat them five nil last time we met but they have also been improving so we have to work hard and push for a win,” she said.
Away games are always difficult, we just have to work hard so that we finish it off at home. We can’t say we will win, the game is played on the pitch.”
“I have to push my team , put confidence in them that they can also play at the senior team. We need to go to Tanzania with this same spirit of scoring goals,” she added.
Meanwhile midfielder Jessica Choolwe Johnson who plays for Aston Villa Youth is happy to make it to Coach Carol Kanyemba’s final 25 member squad.
“This team is very hardworking. It’s hard competition to be part of the last 25 players. I just need to keep working hard. It’s very tough, very physical, so it’s quite a privilege to be here,” she said.
“It’s very important obviously for us and the country to represent and win. Just the feeling of winning is great.”
“Concentration is a big thing because we will be away, so we just need to play as a team, get goals and play our game,” she added.
The winner of the two-legged tie will advance to the third and final qualification round where they will face either Benin or DR Congo for a place at the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to take place in Morocco from 17 October to 8 November.
