Copper Princesses March Into Final Round as DR Congo Coach Admits Limited Knowledge of Squad

Zambia Set Up Ethiopia Showdown After Dominant Aggregate Victory

The Zambia Under-17 Women’s National Team has booked its place in the final round of the Morocco 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers after completing a comprehensive 7-0 aggregate win over DR Congo.

The Copper Princesses followed up their emphatic 5-0 first-leg triumph with a 2-0 victory away from home on Sunday to seal progression and move one step closer to another appearance on the global stage.

Carol Kanyemba’s side will now face Ethiopia in July, with a World Cup ticket at stake as Zambia targets qualification for a third consecutive tournament.

DR Congo Coach Reveals Challenges Ahead of Qualifier

Following his team’s elimination, DR Congo head coach Baylon Kabongolo made a surprising admission, revealing that he had only recently become familiar with the players in his squad.

Kabongolo explained that the first match against Zambia served as an introduction to the team, as he had little prior knowledge of the players before the qualifiers.

“Before the first game, we had only trained a few times. I knew some of the players by name, but I was still getting to know them as individuals,” he said.

He added that the two matches against Zambia provided an important opportunity to assess the squad and understand the players’ strengths and potential for future development.

Squad Selection Limited by Passport Availability

Kabongolo further disclosed that assembling the squad had been a difficult process due to administrative challenges.

According to the coach, the selection was not conducted through a nationwide scouting exercise. Instead, preference was given to players who already possessed valid passports and met the required age criteria.

“There was no full national selection process. We had to work with players who already had travel documents and were eligible to participate,” he explained.

Kanyemba Calls for Continued Focus

Despite the convincing aggregate victory, Zambia coach Carol Kanyemba has urged her players not to lose focus as they prepare for the decisive final round.

Kanyemba noted that qualifying matches become increasingly difficult as teams move closer to securing a place at the World Cup.

“No match is easy, regardless of the first-leg result. We knew the second game would present its own challenges and we remained focused throughout,” she said.

Ethiopia Next in Zambia’s World Cup Journey

The Copper Princesses will now turn their attention to Ethiopia, with the winner of the final qualifying round earning a place at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

Kanyemba believes Zambia has what it takes to reach the tournament again but insists the team must remain disciplined and committed.

“Our dream is to qualify for another World Cup. The opportunity is there, but we have to continue working hard and stay focused,” she said.

Aiming to Make More History

Zambia has already featured at three FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup tournaments and is now chasing a fourth appearance.

Having reached the Round of 16 at the previous edition, the Copper Princesses will be aiming not only to qualify but also to surpass their best-ever performance on the world stage.