Under-17 Womens National Team Ready for Japan Clash

By Chansa Kunda The Zambia Under-17 Women’s National Football Team will tomorrow kick off its 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign against Japan in Morroco. The Group D clash is scheduled to kick off at 17:00 hours Central African Time. The encounter will be the third meeting between the two sides, with Japan recording a 4-1 victory over the Copper Princesses at the 2024 World Cup and a 2-0 win in 2025. Speaking ahead of the encounter, Zambia Under-17 Women’s National Football Team coach CAROL KANYEMBA said the team is ready to face Japan. KANYEMBA said the technical bench is aware of the threat posed by Japan , further assuring that Zambia will adopt a highly tactical approach as the team seeks to overturn the results of their previous encounters. Team defender BEATRICE NJOBVU said a win in the opening match, will set the tone for the remaining fixtures. Midfielder AGNESS MWAKA said unity and communication will be key to securing victory against Japan. The Copper Princesses are among 24 teams participating in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Rabat, Morocco. Zambia is in Group D alongside France, Japan and Venezuela, with the top two teams automatically qualifying for the Round of 16.