The Zambia U17 Women’s National Team defeated Tanzania 1-0 to advance to the final qualifying round for the 2025 Morocco World Cup. Natasha Nkaka scored the only goal of the match shortly after halftime. Zambia will face Benin in the next round scheduled for later in April.
The Zambia U17 Women’s National Team secured a 1-0 victory over Tanzania at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday, advancing to the third round of qualifiers for the 2025 Morocco World Cup. Coach Carol Kanyemba made a strategic change by substituting Pemba Queens’ Sharon Siakaloba for Lilian Mwenda, following a 3-0 away win against Tanzania previously.
The match unfolded under challenging conditions due to heavy rain shortly before kickoff, leading to a tense encounter. Mercy Chipasula emerged as a significant threat right from the start, although teammates Hellen and Sharon struggled in midfield. Natasha Nkaka almost opened the scoring with a long-range shot that hit the crossbar, while Chipasula saw her free kick saved and Ruth Mukoma’s attempt went wide, concluding the first half in a stalemate.
After the break, Zambia broke the deadlock in just eight minutes when Natasha Nkaka’s long-range free kick went untouched into the net, leading 1-0. Masela Sekeseke, who replaced Siakaloba, partnered effectively with Mercy and Ruth in pressuring the Tanzanian defense. Tanzania nearly equalized late in the match with a shot from Steven Kizanguzi, but it narrowly missed the target.
Zambia’s win sets up a matchup against Benin in the final qualifying round, with two-legged ties scheduled for the latter half of April.
Zambia’s U17 Women successfully triumphed over Tanzania, securing a spot in the final round of World Cup qualifiers with a 1-0 victory. Despite difficult weather conditions, the team demonstrated resilience, with Natasha Nkaka’s goal proving decisive. The upcoming fixtures against Benin will be crucial for their World Cup aspirations.
Original Source: zambianfootball.co.zm
