The Zambia Under-17 Women’s National Team return to action today, Wednesday, with a crucial Group D encounter against Venezuela at the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026. Both teams head into the match determined to secure their first victory after suffering defeats in their opening games. For Zambia, the encounter presents an important opportunity to respond to their disappointing start and strengthen their hopes of advancing to the round of 16. Head coach Carol Kanyemba and her technical bench will be looking for an improved performance as the young Copper Queens seek to collect maximum points. With qualification still within reach, the match against Venezuela could prove significant in shaping Zambia’s campaign at the global tournament.
Zambia suffered a 5-0 defeat against Japan in their opening Group D match, while Venezuela lost 2-0 to France. Although both teams endured difficult starts, they now have an opportunity to put those results behind them and focus on the points available in their second group encounter. Zambia will need to show greater defensive organisation, improve their ability to retain possession and make better use of opportunities in the attacking third. The team will also need to remain disciplined throughout the match, particularly against a Venezuela side that will be equally motivated to secure its first points. A positive result would give Zambia renewed confidence and provide a stronger foundation for their remaining group fixtures.
For coach Carol Kanyemba, the immediate objective remains securing a place in the round of 16. Zambia entered the tournament with ambitions of progressing beyond the group stage, and the meeting with Venezuela offers a valuable chance to keep those hopes alive. The technical bench will be keen to see the players apply the lessons learned from their opening defeat and demonstrate greater composure under pressure. At this level of international football, the ability to recover quickly from setbacks can play an important role in determining a team’s progress. Zambia must therefore approach the match with concentration, confidence and a clear understanding of the task ahead.
Having settled in Rabat, the Zambian players will also be looking to build on their growing experience of competing at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Playing against teams from different footballing backgrounds exposes young players to new tactical approaches, faster decision-making and the demands of international competition. Zambia’s opening match against Japan provided an early test of those demands, but the encounter with Venezuela offers another opportunity to show improvement. The players will need to work collectively, support one another defensively and remain purposeful whenever they move forward. Converting their preparations and tournament experience into a disciplined performance will be essential if they are to claim all three points.
The meeting between Zambia and Venezuela also brings back memories of their previous encounter at the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica. Venezuela won that match 4-0, giving the South American side the historical advantage in their head-to-head record at the tournament. However, 12 years have passed since that meeting, and both countries now have different generations of players representing them on the international stage. The previous result provides historical context, but it does not determine what will happen in Morocco. The current squads must establish their own identity, with Wednesday’s match offering Zambia an opportunity to produce a different outcome.
Venezuela will approach the contest with similar determination after their 2-0 loss to France. The South American side will be eager to improve its position in Group D and avoid another defeat that could complicate its qualification hopes. With both teams searching for their first win, the match carries added importance for the players and their respective technical benches. Small details, including defensive concentration, passing accuracy and decision-making in the final third, could make a difference in such a closely contested situation. Zambia will need to balance attacking ambition with defensive responsibility while taking advantage of any opportunities that arise.
The Group D schedule also features an earlier encounter between Japan and France, which kicks off at 17:00 Central African Time (CAT). Japan currently lead the group after their victory over Zambia, while France also began their campaign with three points following their win against Venezuela. Their meeting could influence the group standings before Zambia and Venezuela take to the field at 20:00 CAT. The results of both matches will help clarify the qualification picture as the teams continue their fight for a place in the knockout stages. For Zambia, however, the immediate priority will be delivering a strong performance and securing a result against Venezuela.
The qualification format gives every team a clear incentive to compete for points throughout the group stage. The top two teams in each group automatically advance to the round of 16, while four additional places are available to the best third-placed teams across the groups. This means Zambia’s chances of progressing will depend not only on their remaining performances but also on how other results affect the standings. Winning against Venezuela would put the Copper Queens in a stronger position than another defeat and could provide an important boost ahead of their final group fixture. Even so, the team will need to maintain its focus beyond Wednesday’s match because qualification remains dependent on the overall group results.
Zambian football supporters will be watching closely as the young Copper Queens attempt to respond to their opening setback and keep their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign on course. The players have an opportunity to demonstrate resilience, improve on their first performance and show that they can compete effectively on the world stage. A victory would deliver three valuable points and restore momentum at a critical stage of the group campaign. It would also give the team greater confidence as it continues to pursue its first objective of reaching the knockout rounds. The challenge will be to turn that ambition into an effective performance against a Venezuela side facing the same pressure to win.
The Zambia versus Venezuela Group D encounter kicks off at 20:00 CAT on Wednesday, while Japan face France at 17:00 CAT. Both matches are available to watch live on the FIFA+ platform, giving supporters an opportunity to follow the teams as the battle for round-of-16 qualification develops. For Zambia, the meeting with Venezuela represents more than a chance to recover from a heavy opening defeat. It is an opportunity to show growth, compete with renewed purpose and keep their hopes of progressing at the tournament alive. The Copper Queens will now need to translate their preparations into a determined display as they seek their first victory at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026.