Carol Kanyemba Daka Becomes First Zambian Female Coach to Qualify Team for FIFA World Cup

Carol Kanyemba Daka Becomes First Zambian Female Coach to Qualify Team for FIFA World Cup

Carol Kanyemba Daka, the coach of Zambia’s Under-17 team and Green Buffalo’s women’s team, has made history as the first Zambian female coach to qualify a team for the FIFA World Cup. The Copper Princesses secured their place in the 2024 Dominican Republic Women’s Under-17 FIFA World Cup by defeating Morocco’s Under-17 women’s national team 3-1 at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, followed by a 0-0 draw in the second leg, clinching a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Rising star striker Namute Chileshe of Green Buffalo’s was instrumental in this triumph, scoring a hat-trick that gave the Copper Princesses a commanding lead over the Young Atlas Lionesses. This achievement comes on the heels of Daka’s recent success in leading Green Buffalo’s women’s football team to an undefeated championship season in the Zambian Women’s Super League.

The qualification also highlights Zambia’s growing prominence in women’s football. Notably, Barbra Banda, currently among the top scorers in the NWSL in America and the second-most expensive female player in the world, and Racheal Kundananji, the most expensive female player in the world playing for Bay FC, have also contributed to Zambia’s rising football profile.

As the Copper Princesses prepare to compete against the best players in the world at the U-17 FIFA World Cup in the Dominican Republic later this year, Carol Kanyemba Daka’s name is etched in Zambian football history. The tournament, featuring 16 teams including Brazil, Colombia, and the USA, will take place from October 16 to November 3, 2024. This historic qualification marks Zambia’s debut in the Under-17 World Cup, showcasing the nation’s progress and potential on the global football stage.