Zambia U17 outclass Botswana

The Zambia U17 women’s national football team outclassed their Bostwana counter parts over two legs to progress 8 – 3 on aggregate to the 2014 Costa Rica FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup second qualification round where they will meet South Africa.

South Africa and Nigeria were given byes to the second round.

A resounding 5 -2 victory recorded a fortnight ago at Molepolole Sports Complex was followed by Sunday’s comfortable 3 -1 win at Sunset Stadium.

Ireen Lungu, perhaps the most skillful player on the field, put Zambia in front inside three minutes after she followed up a rebound from Memory Phiri‘s effort which hand rebounded off the upright. Zambia’s other two goals were scored in the dying minutes of each half by Memory Phiri. Botswana’s only goal was scored from a free kick by Gorata Morekolodi at the stroke of half time.

Ireen was later withdrawn due to injury and was replaced by Penelope Mulubwa.

Coach Albert Kachinga was happy that his team carried the day but could not hide his disappointment on the girls’ failure to kill off the game early.

“We have won but we did not play well. We created so many scoring opportunities. I felt we would have scored more than five or six goals but we did not play our usual game,” Kachinga said.

On facing South Africa in the next round Kachinga said: “We are ready to take on our next challenge. We just have to prepare well; if we prepare well we shall have good results. I am quite hopeful that we have a squad which can take us to Costa Rica. All we need is to camp early.”

And Botswana Under-17 women’s national football team coach Olorilwe Chris Mogapi said he was not disappointed with the outcome over two legs.

“I am happy with my girls’ performance. These two legs were their first experience of football at international level. We selected players from primary and junior secondary schools and brought them together to form this team. They only started playing together as a team about two months ago,” said Mogapi.

The second qualification round matches will be played in November with the first legs being played during the weekend of 1st to 3rd November while return matches will be played during the weekend of 22nd to 24th November 2013.