The Zambia under-17 Women National Team, also known as the Copper Princesses, have been drawn to face Rwanda in the first round of the Morocco 2026 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers. The CAF Zone draws set the first-leg match to take place in Rwanda over the weekend of April 10-12, with the return leg scheduled a week later in Ndola, Zambia.
The winner of the Zambia-Rwanda tie will advance to face either DR Congo or Djibouti in the second round, scheduled for May. The first-leg second-round matches will be held from May 22-24, with the return legs taking place from May 29-31. Should Zambia progress to the third round, they will meet the winners of either South Sudan versus Ethiopia or Malawi versus Burundi.
The Copper Princesses have a strong track record, having qualified for back-to-back FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cups in 2024 in the Dominican Republic and in 2025 in Morocco. Morocco will host the tournaments as part of its efforts to promote sports tourism and build a culture of supporting women’s football.
The upcoming fixtures provide Zambia with an opportunity to continue their development on the international stage while aiming to secure another FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance. Fans and supporters are expected to rally behind the Copper Princesses as they pursue success in the CAF qualifiers leading to Morocco 2026.