Carol Kanyemba has described the Copper Princesses' FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup as "bad for us", a tournament in Morocco from which Zambia returned without a point after losing 5–0 to Japan, 3–2 to Venezuela and 1–0 to France in Group D. ZamFoot reported her review on Sunday 25 October and News Diggers followed on Monday 26 October with her post-match remarks after the France game, which Lusaka Brief reported on Sunday.
Her assessment, as ZamFoot reports it, is that failing to collect a point was a setback compared with Zambia's previous appearance, and that while the under-17 level is developmental, players still have to learn how to win if they are to make the transition to senior football. Some of the squad were returning from the last edition and others were debutants; some of the returning players, she said, did not reproduce their earlier form, and players develop at different rates. She pointed out that the team had gone through six qualifiers unbeaten to get to Morocco and had shown character in doing so.
The gap and how to close it
The central point in both reports is exposure. ZamFoot quotes her saying the distance between African and World Cup level means the team needs to be exposed more; News Diggers' headline has her saying the Copper Princesses need more international exposure to compete at World Cup level. She praised the players' resilience and their achievement in qualifying. News Diggers quotes her: "First and foremost, I want to appreciate all the efforts that they put in."
Don't look down on yourselves, girls. You've got this, and you are as good as everyone else.
— Carol Kanyemba, Copper Princesses head coach, to her players after the U-17 Women's World Cup, as reported by ZamFoot on Sunday 25 October
On what happens next, ZamFoot reports that the technical bench will review its selection and scouting processes, continue developing both the players who remain eligible at under-17 level and those who graduate, and keep scouting to fill the gaps the graduates leave. The under-20 and senior national teams are already targeting some of the departing players, she said. She apologised to supporters and said criticism helps the coaching staff improve.
Kanyemba's tournament ended with a national honour as well as three defeats. She was awarded the President's Insignia of Meritorious Achievement at the Independence Day investiture on 24 October, as Lusaka Brief reported on Monday, in recognition of taking Zambia to three consecutive under-17 World Cups.
Sources: ZamFoot, “Kanyemba admits World Cup disappointment, calls for more exposure for Copper Princesses” (25 Oct 2026); News Diggers, “Copper Princesses need more exposure to compete at WC level – Kanyemba” (26 Oct 2026).