Zambia Under-17 women’s national team coach Carol Kanyemba has named her provisional squad for the upcoming 2024 FIFA U-17 World Cup set for the Dominican Republic this year.
Kanyemba has summoned a total of 28 players who will be vying to make the final squad to feature at the World Cup scheduled to start in October.
FAZ disclosed this morning that the Copper Princesess are set to resume residential camp to kickstart preparations for the global tournament over the weekend.
Green Buffaloes striker Namute Chileshe who scored a hat-trick in the final round of qualifiers at home to Morocco, headlines Kanyemba’s squad alongside captain Blessings Zulu and striker Ruth Mukoma in a roster blending players from the Women’s Super League, National Division One and the Provincial Leagues.
The Copper Princesess have been drawn in Group D alongside Japan, Poland and Brazil against whom they kick-off their campaign at the tournament on 17th October in Santo Domingo.
Zambia will then face Poland on 20th October before squaring it off with the 2014 winners Japan three days later at the Félix Sanchez Stadium.
The Copper Princesess qualified for the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after edging Morocco to follow in the footsteps of the class of the 2014 tournament held in Costa Rica where the current crop of Copper Queens stars such as Barbara Banda, Grace Chanda, Margaret Belemu and Martha Tembo featured.
The 2024 FIFA U-17 World Cup gets underway on 16th October to 3rd November, 2024.
FULL 28-MEMBER SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Margaret Phiri (Elite Ladies), Mwila Chishala Mufunte (Police Dove Queens), Cynthia Mushili (Trident Queens), Loveness Chingwele (MUZA)
DEFENDERS
Margaret Gondwe (Luyando Foundation Girls), Natasha Nkaka (Choma Warriors), Nana Mulanda (Play It Forward), Chabota Mweene (Zed Pro Sports Foundation), Chimwemwe Banda (Football Chance Academy), Eunice Bwalya (YASA Queens), Precious Mwape (Luyando Foundation)
MIDFIELDERS
Lillian Mweenda (Elite Ladies), Zangose Blessing Zulu (Pataaki FC), Mapalo Blessing Maluba (Marvelous Academy), Harriet Matipa (YASA Queens), Saliya Mwanza (Elite Ladies), Taonga Mubanga (YASA Queens), Mary Mukupa (Red Arrows), Judith Phiri (Chikonaty)
STRIKERS
Namute Chileshe (Green Buffaloes), Caroline Nsondo (Choma Warriors), Gift Chilwizhi, Mercy Chipasula (both Kamfinsa Blue Eagles), Lweendo Hanongo (Driven Queens), Ruth Mukoma (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Ruth Muwowo (Amazing Grace), Eunice Mutonyi (Police Dove Queens), Mwaziona Sakala (Chipata Girls)
