Copper Princesses head coach Carol Kanyemba says the team has a lot of work when they go to Addis Ababa for the return leg.
Kanyemba was speaking after the Copper Princesses grinded out a 2-1 win over Ethiopia in the first leg of their final round of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers on Saturday.
“Thanks to God for the victory though it is a slim victory. We have a lot of work when we go away,” Kanyemba said.
Kanyemba said Zambia will go into the second leg ready to protect the lead, adding that if the game demands it, they will settle for a scoreless draw.
The Green Buffaloes Women’s Football Club assistant admitted that the team wanted to keep a clean sheet in the first leg.
“The good part is we got the goals. Our aim was to keep a clean sheet but football being what it is, it had to happen like that,” she said.
Ethiopia enjoyed early possession, knocking the ball around with confidence, but failed to find a way through Zambia’s backline.
Zambia settled into the game and struck first in the 14th minute when Precious Mwewa arrived in the box to turn in Grace Phiri’s low cross.
The goal lifted Zambia, who began to press higher and pin Ethiopia inside their own half. But the visitors stayed compact, soaked up the pressure and looked dangerous on the break.
Five minutes before the interval, Ethiopia found their equaliser after Ayele Mihret bent a well-struck free-kick over the wall and beyond goalkeeper Bukata Kakumbi.
Zambia came out with greater urgency after the restart and regained the lead in the 54th minute.
Substitute Phidah Mazuwa made an instant impact, rising above the defence to head home Faith Kaunda’s teasing cross.
The Copper Princesses searched for a third goal while Ethiopia kept probing for another away strike.
Mihret nearly punished Zambia again from a set piece in the 67th minute, but her free-kick flew inches over the crossbar.
Zambia saw out the closing stages to take a narrow but valuable advantage into the decisive second leg, where they just need to avoid defeat to book their place on the world stage.
The second leg is set for next weekend in Ethiopia. The winner over two legs will qualify for the global showpiece
The Copper Princesses are looking to secure a third World Cup qualification having made it to the 2024 and 2025 editions.
The tenth edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will take place in Morocco from 17 October to 7 November 2026, with 24 sides set to battle it out to be crowned as global champions.
