The Zambia Under-17 Women’s National Team put in a polished performance at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium after cruising to a 5-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Copper Princesses looked a completely different side from the team that faced Rwanda in the opening round of the qualifiers.
Against DR Congo, Zambia played with more purpose going forward, controlled the midfield well, and looked organised defensively from start to finish. The improvement was evident and it reflected the work that had gone into preparing the team before the match.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) moved early by bringing the players into camp early in Lusaka, where the squad spent more than two weeks working on fitness, tactical drills and building understanding within the team before relocating to Ndola on May 17 for the final phase of preparations.
The extended camp gave the technical bench enough time to assess combinations and improve coordination among the players. With every training session, the team looked more settled, and that chemistry was visible in the way Zambia moved the ball and pressed as a unit against DR Congo.
FAZ President Keith Mweemba has repeatedly stressed the importance of early preparations for national teams, and the performance in Ndola appeared to justify that approach. The team also benefited from competitive practice matches before the qualifier. The Copper Princesses faced Red Arrows Women’s Club before taking on ZESCO Ndola boys in training games designed to test the squad physically and mentally.
Those matches helped sharpen the players’ decision-making, improve their match fitness, and raise the overall intensity in the team. By the time they stepped onto the pitch against DR Congo, Zambia looked confident, composed, and ready for the challenge.
The 5-0 victory was therefore not only about the result, but also about the planning behind it. FAZ created an environment that allowed the players to prepare properly and compete with confidence.
[Pictures: FAZ President Keith Mweemba joined the Copper Princesses in celebrating the victory over DRC at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium shortly after the final whistle].
