Zambia U17 Women’s National Team head coach Carol Kanyemba has named a strong 36 member provisional squad for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2025. Skipper Mercy Chipasula leads the 36 players summoned by coach Carol Kanyemba. Other notable names include goalkeeper Bukata Kakumbi, Driven Queens defender Lweendo Hanongo, YASA Queens midfield ace Taonga Mubanga, Red Arrows winger Masela Sekeseke and Elite Ladies forward Wendy Mwiikisa. Defenders Nana Malanda and Natasha Nkaka have also returned to the set up after missing the 2023 World Cup due to injuries. However England based midfielder Jessica Choolwe Johnson who is on the books of Aston Villa and ZESCO Ndola Girls’ Ruth Mukoma are missing from the squad. The team will enter camp on Sunday and will be drilled by the Kanyemba led technical bench until next month when the World Cup kicks off. Zambia opens its account on 19 October against Paraguay at the Football Academy Mohammed V1 before facing Japan three days later at the same venue with the final group match on 25 October. The Copper Princesses are making a return to the FIFA World Cup for a record third time having been at the biggest showpiece in 2014, 2024 and 2025. Group F will be based in Salé, which is a city in northwestern Morocco, on the right bank of the Bou Regreg River. PROVISIONAL SQUAD (GOALKEEPERS) Bukata Kakumbia (Police Doves), Loveness Chingwele (Muza Queens), Mary Nyangu (Yasa Queens), Decent Mbewe (National Assembly), Gertrude Nkhoma (Young Green Buffaloes), Winfridah Mutale (Elite Ladies) (DEFENDERS) Lweendo Hanongo (Driven Queens), Natasha Nkaka (Green Eagles Women), Nana Malanda (Green Buffaloes), Precious Mwape (Luyando Foundation), Gift Mazimba (Elite Ladies), Beatrice Njobvu (Red Arrows Women), Faith Kaunda (ZedPro Academy), Esther Ngabwe (Elite Ladies), Theresa Mubiana (Amazing Grace), Tabith Nyirenda (Driven Queens) (MIDFIELDERS) Taonga Mubanga (Yasa Queens), Natasha Kasema (Green Buffaloes), Sharon Siakaloba (Pemba Queens), Taonga Tembo (Young Green Buffaloes), Precious Mwewa (Candice Academy), Brenda Mwewa (Nchanga Queens), Leah Mulenga (Chalube Queens), Faith Kajiya (Elite Ladies), Natasha Chileshe (Zesco Ndola Girls), Esther Makoti (Amazing Grace) (STRIKERS ) Mercy Chipaula (Kamfinsa Blue Eagles), Grace Phiri (Indeni Roses), Masela Sekeseke (Red Arrows Women), Victoria Mbali (Young Green Buffaloes), Hellen Sichamba, Blessings Chiumya, Wendy Mwikisa (all Elite Ladies), Esther Mutinta, Carol Nsondo (both Choma Warriors), Ruth Nakazwe (Bauleni United Sports Academy)
MTN Super League side ZESCO United have reinforced their squad with two new acquisitions namely Emmanuel Manda and Derrick Obame. Derrick Maureen Assoumou Obame is a Gabonese attacking midfielder who joins Team Ya Ziko from Football Canon 105. The club took to social media to confirm the development. Emmanuel Manda joins Zega Mambo from FC MUZA and has penned a two year deal with the Ndola based outfit. “ZESCO United Football Club is proud to officially unveil two exciting new additions to the Ndola Giants – Gabonese attacking midfielder Derrick Maureen Assoumou Obame and Zambian forward Emmanuel Manda from FC MUZA. At only 19 years old, Obame arrives from Football Canon 105 (Gabon) as a highly rated left-footed playmaker, identified by the club as a strategic addition to strengthen creativity, tempo control and attacking unpredictability ahead of both domestic and continental campaigns. His technical quality, vision, composure in tight spaces and attacking intelligence are expected to elevate ZESCO’S offensive play and provide quality service to the forwards. Obame has already linked up with the squad in Ndola and will integrate immediately with the technical team,” reads part of a statement from ZESCO United. “Meanwhile, Emmanuel Manda joins the live wires from FC MUZA, bringing aggression, pace and attacking hunger to the frontline. The dynamic forward has officially arrived in Ndola and put pen to paper on a two-year contract following agreement between the two clubs. Known for his ability to unsettle defenders and his all-round attacking play, Manda now embarks on an exciting new chapter at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium as ZESCO continues to build a squad capable of challenging for silverware both locally and continentally.”
Zambia Under-20 Women National Team coach Florence Mwila has named a 34-member provisional squad for the back-to-back third round FIFA World Cup qualifier against Uganda. Mwila has roped in some of the starlets from the under-17 FIFA World Cup squad to inject some dynamism in the set up. The team will enter camp on Monday as part of preparation for the Uganda clash, which is the penultimate stage for the Poland 2026 FIFA World Cup. Zambia will be away to Uganda on February 7 before hosting the East Africans at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium a week later with a place in the final round at stake. The junior Copper Queens are chasing their debut appearance at the FIFA World Cup where their seniors and the under-17 have already been. Zambia is hoping to be among four African representatives at the 24-team tournament, which will take place in Poland from 5 to 27 September 2026. FULL PROVISIONAL SQUAD (GOALKEEPERS) Mwila Mufunte (Green Buffaloes), Mary Nyangu (Yasa Queens), Harriet Tembo (Zanaco Ladies), Loveness Chingwele (Muza Queens) (DEFENDERS) Esther Musialela (Zanaco Ladies), Margaret Gondwe (Green Buffaloes), Lweendo Hanongo (Driven Queens), Fridah Mbao (Pataaki Queens), Saliya Mwanza (Elite Ladies), Jessy Zulu (Green Buffaloes), Natasha Nkaka (Green Eagles), Kampamba Mulenga (Nchanga Queens), Faith Kaunda (ZedPro), Precious Mwape (Luyando Foundation) (MIDFIELDERS) Bupe Banda, Masela Sekeseke, Beatrice Njobvu (all Red Arrows), Natasha Kasema (Green Buffaloes), Pumulo Lubasi, Blessings Zulu (both Zanaco Ladies), Ruth Muwowo (Amazing Grace), Gift Chilwishi (Kamfinsa Blue Eagles), Tricia Mabamba, Mapalo Maluba (both Nchanga Queens) (STRIKERS) Mercy Chipasula (Kamfinsa Blue Eagles), Grace Phiri (Indeni Roses), Beauty Phiri (Muza Queens FC), Mary Mukupa (Red Arrows), Sarah Nkandu (Radar Queens), Edith Phiri (Indeni Roses), Victoria Mbali (Young Green Buffaloes), Agness Musele (Trident), Theresa Nayame (Kansanshi Queens), Sharon Siakaloba (Pemba Queens) By FAZ Media
Malawi Women’s National Team Coach Lovemore Fazili has admitted that his side has been drawn in a group of death against big teams for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2026. Fazili however believes this is a motivation for the Scorchers to fight hard at the highest level. Malawi have been drawn in Group C alongside Champions Nigeria, 2022 bronze medalists, Zambia and North African side Egypt.
“On paper, we have been drawn against big teams. It is called the group of death for a reason, but that also gives us hope and motivation to fight at the highest level. We have the defending champions in our group, so we need to analyse all our opponents thoroughly,” Fazili told FAM Media. Malawi will open their WAFCON campaign against Nigeria on 18 March, face Egypt three days later, and conclude the group stage against neighbours Zambia on 24 March. Fazili emphasized that preparations will be intensive, with the upcoming COSAFA Women’s Championship playing a key role, particularly in involving local-based players to strengthen squad depth.
“Our preparations will be stiff. We will utilise COSAFA to give opportunities to local players so that we can go to Morocco strongly,” he said. “We are not changing the squad, but we will expand it to fix loopholes and improve competition within the team.” Malawi secured their first-ever WAFCON qualification after a 2–0 aggregate victory over Angola at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, marking a historic milestone for women’s football in the country. The continental showpiece will be staged in Morocco from 17 March to 3 April 2026.