Women’s U17 coach not impressed with slim win over Benin

By Kalumiana Kalumiana 

Zambia women’s U17 coach Carol Kanyemba is not pleased with the margin of Saturday’s 2-1 home win over Benin in their 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifier heading into this weekend’s final leg decider to be played in Togo.

Both sides came into the first leg at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola with 100 percent unbeaten records that saw Benin beat DR Congo 2-0 at home and 3-0 away while Zambia beat Tanzania 3-0 away and 1-0 at home.

Zambia went on to dominate Benin at Levy but were not thorough enough in their finishing as they aim for a historic back-to-back FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualification.

Kanyemba said in a post-match interview that she never doubted Zambia would win but not by a slender margin.

“When they scored it meant a lot of pressure in us. An away goal always gives pressure so it’s pressure for us going that side,” Kanyemba said.

Mercy Chipasula put Zambia ahead in the 15th minute when her speculative long-range shot was fumbled by Benin goalkeeper Larissa Saizonou who let the ball fall behind her and across the line.

Chipasula had earlier missed a chance in the 3rd minute and had a couple of more attempts in the 22nd and 35th minutes going wide and saved respectively to see Zambia take a one-nil lead into the break. 

Then Benin equalised in the 58th minute when Yenido Gandonou smashed in the ball on the rebound.

However,  the scoreline lasted just six minutes when Chipasula completed her brace with a fine freekick.

Zambia also had hopes of a third goal dashed when Mabela Sekeseke’s effort missed the referee and first assistant’s eye when it was scooped out across the goalline by Benin goalkeeper Saizonou. we 

“The game wasn’t easy in that we made it very difficult for ourselves in that we missed a lot of opportunities in the first half that we could have converted into goals,” Kanyemba said.

“But the missed opportunities have brought a lot of pressure on our team.”

A 1-0 home win by Benin on April 28 in Lome would see them qualify on away goals rule.

“I know that the return leg could be very difficult because scoring an away goal gives the other team an opportunity but I believed we were not going to lose this game,” said Kanyemba.


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