The Zambia Under-17 Women National Team is stepping up preparations for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup with an international friendly against China in Casablanca on Friday. The match forms part of an intensive preparation programme designed to help the young Copper Queens build match fitness, improve tactical understanding and adapt to the conditions they will face during the tournament in Morocco. Head coach Carol Kanyemba and her technical bench have maintained a strong training schedule since the team arrived in Casablanca on Monday. The squad has been conducting training sessions at the Academie Des Electriciens De Football as preparations continue. The international camp gives Zambia an important opportunity to fine-tune its approach before entering the competitive environment of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
The decision by the Football Association of Zambia to organise a 10-day international camp reflects the importance of adequate preparation ahead of a major tournament. The camp has been designed to give the players time to acclimatize to their surroundings while also providing opportunities to play warm-up matches. International tournaments can place different physical, tactical and mental demands on young players, making preparation especially important. Training in Morocco allows the team to become more familiar with the environment before the World Cup begins. The combination of structured training and international friendly matches should help the technical bench assess the squad and make final adjustments before the tournament.
Coach Carol Kanyemba and her technical team have been working to maintain the momentum built during the team’s preparations. Regular training sessions provide an opportunity to improve team shape, passing, movement and defensive organisation. Friendly matches also allow the coaching staff to evaluate how players respond to different opponents and match situations. The game against China will therefore be more than a simple warm-up encounter. It will give Zambia valuable competitive exposure and provide another chance to assess the team’s readiness for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
Playing against China can also expose the Zambian players to a different footballing style. International friendlies allow young teams to test their tactical plans against opponents with different approaches to possession, movement and defending. Such matches can reveal areas that require improvement before the pressure of the World Cup increases. They can also help players build confidence by competing against high-level opposition in a controlled preparation environment. The experience gained from the China friendly could become useful when Zambia faces the demanding matches that await in the tournament.
The Casablanca camp also gives the players an opportunity to adjust to the conditions they will encounter during the competition. Acclimatization can be important for a team travelling to another country because players must adapt to a new environment, training facilities and daily routines. Arriving several days before the tournament allows the coaching staff to establish a stable preparation schedule. It also gives players time to focus on recovery, training and team development without the immediate pressure of competitive World Cup matches. This period can help the squad enter the tournament with greater familiarity and confidence.
Zambia has been drawn in Group D alongside France, Japan and Venezuela. The group presents a demanding challenge because the team will face opponents from different footballing backgrounds. France brings the experience and competitive standards associated with European youth football, while Japan has a strong reputation for technical development and organised play. Venezuela adds another distinct style from South American football, giving Zambia a varied group of opponents. The matches will require Zambia to remain disciplined, adaptable and focused throughout the tournament.
The presence of France, Japan and Venezuela makes every stage of Zambia’s preparation important. The team will need to use its warm-up matches to identify strengths and address weaknesses before the opening game. The technical bench can use these encounters to assess different combinations and determine how individual players perform in specific tactical roles. The players, meanwhile, can gain valuable experience dealing with the intensity and expectations of international competition. Every training session and friendly match can therefore contribute to the team’s overall readiness.
The FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup is an important platform for young players because it provides international exposure at an early stage of their careers. Competing against some of the best youth teams in the world can help players develop their technical, tactical and mental qualities. It can also give them experience of playing in high-pressure matches against opponents they may not regularly encounter. For Zambia, participation provides an opportunity for the players to represent the country on a major international stage. It also gives the coaching staff an important environment in which to develop the next generation of Zambian women’s football talent.
The tournament is scheduled to take place in Morocco from 17 October to 7 November. With the competition approaching, the current camp represents an important stage in Zambia’s final preparations. The team has time to work on its tactical plans while gaining match experience through international friendlies. The technical bench can also use the remaining preparation period to monitor player fitness and build a balanced squad. Maintaining a consistent training programme will be important as the players prepare to shift from preparation mode into tournament competition.
The role of the coaching staff will be particularly important during this period. Carol Kanyemba and her technical bench must balance physical preparation with tactical work while ensuring that players remain fresh ahead of the tournament. Young footballers can benefit from intensive training, but preparation must also account for recovery and match readiness. The coaching team will need to assess how players respond to the demands of the camp and the friendly matches. These decisions can influence how effectively the squad begins its World Cup campaign.
For the players, the Casablanca camp offers a chance to strengthen team chemistry and build a shared understanding of the team’s tactical approach. A successful youth team requires more than individual talent because players must understand their responsibilities within the collective system. Training sessions allow the squad to develop communication, movement and coordination across different areas of the pitch. Friendly matches then provide an opportunity to apply those lessons under competitive conditions. Building this understanding before the World Cup can help Zambia approach its group matches with greater organisation and confidence.
The preparation programme also reflects the importance of giving Zambia’s young women’s national team meaningful international exposure before a major competition. Warm-up games against international opponents can provide information that domestic training alone cannot offer. Players can experience different levels of pace, physicality and tactical pressure while the technical team can evaluate the team’s response. These experiences can help reduce uncertainty before the tournament begins. The 10-day camp therefore serves as an important bridge between the team’s previous preparations and the demands of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Zambia Under-17 Women National Team now has an important opportunity to make the most of its time in Casablanca. The friendly against China will provide another test as the team continues building towards the World Cup. The camp has already created a structured environment for training, acclimatization and international match preparation, while the coaching staff continues to work with the players ahead of the tournament. With France, Japan and Venezuela waiting in Group D, Zambia will need strong preparation, discipline and consistency from the opening match. As the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup approaches, the work being done in Casablanca will be crucial in helping the young Zambian players enter the competition prepared for the challenge and ready to represent their country on the international stage.