The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has called for an immediate preparation plan for the Copper Princesses ahead of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, with the association stressing the importance of early organisation.
FAZ general secretary Charles Chakatazya made the call after the team returned from Ethiopia, where they secured qualification for Zambia’s third consecutive appearance at the global youth tournament.
Chakatazya congratulated the players and technical bench for achieving another milestone but warned that preparations must begin without delay, given the limited time remaining before the World Cup kicks off.
He has since urged the technical team to submit a detailed action plan outlining how the squad will be prepared to compete against the best youth teams in the world.
“Qualifying for three successive FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cups is no small feat. We now need to shift our focus to preparing adequately for the tournament, and I urge the technical bench to quickly submit their plan of action,” Chakatazya said.
The Copper Princesses, under coach Carol Kanyemba, booked their place at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco after overcoming Ethiopia 3-2 on aggregate.
Zambia secured qualification following a 1-1 draw in Addis Ababa on Saturday, having won the first leg 2-1 in Ndola two weeks earlier.
The team produced an impressive qualifying campaign, scoring 12 goals while conceding only three. Along the way, Zambia eliminated Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ethiopia to secure their place at the tournament.
The Copper Princesses arrived back home through Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at 01:16, where they were welcomed by FAZ officials, including deputy general secretary Iva Lengwe and head of media and communications Nkweto Tembwe.
The delegation to Ethiopia was led by FAZ Lusaka Province women’s representative Samantha Miyanda, while referees manager Stanley Hachiwa and head of administration Francis Limande represented the association’s secretariat.
With qualification secured, attention now shifts towards building a competitive squad capable of making a strong impression at the World Cup stage.
