Copper Princesses Edge Ethiopia To Take First-Leg Advantage In U-17 World Cup Qualifier
The Copper Princesses will head to Addis Ababa with a one-goal cushion after grinding out a 2-1 win over Ethiopia in the first leg of the final round of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers Saturday.
Ethiopia managed to grab a crucial away goal to leave the tie wide open in the second leg. The 2-1 result means Zambia only need a goalless draw or win in the return leg to seal a third straight appearance at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
Head Coach Carol Kanyemba admitted the team still has a big job to do but thanked God for the slim victory.
“Thanks to God for the victory though it is a slim victory. We have a lot of work when we go away” Kanyemba said.
Kanyemba said Zambia will go into the second leg ready to protect the lead, adding that if the game demands it, they will settle for a scoreless draw.
“The good part is we got the goals. Our aim was to keep a clean sheet but football being what it is, it had to happen like that,” she said.
And Ethiopia coach Rawda Ali believes the away goal has kept her side firmly in the contest. Ali is expecting another tough contest as Zambia will be looking to sit deep and defend their advantage.
“It is a good result for us. We plan to play a good game in our country. The good thing is we managed to score a goal at their home ground. So we hope to go back home and get more goals,” Ali said. Ethiopia enjoyed early possession, knocking the ball around with confidence, but failed to find a way through Zambia’s backline.
Zambia settled into the game and struck first in the 14th minute when Precious Mwewa arrived in the box to turn in Grace Phiri’s low cross.
The goal lifted Zambia, who began to press higher and pin Ethiopia inside their own half. But the visitors stayed compact, soaked up the pressure and looked dangerous on the break.
Five minutes before the interval, Ethiopia found their equaliser after Ayele Mihret bent a well-struck free-kick over the wall and beyond goalkeeper Bukata Kakumbi.
Zambia came out with greater urgency after the restart and regained the lead in the 54th minute. Substitute Phidah Mazuwa made an instant impact, rising above the defence to head home Faith Kaunda’s teasing cross.
The Copper Princesses searched for a third goal while Ethiopia kept probing for another away strike. Mihret nearly punished Zambia again from a set piece in the 67th minute, but her free-kick flew inches over the crossbar.
Zambia saw out the closing stages to take a narrow but valuable advantage into the decisive second leg, where one more solid performance could book their place on the world stage.
