Serengeti Girls ready to face Zambia in World Cup qualifier

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania national U-17 women’s football team (Serengeti Girls) players are ready to face Zambia (Copper Princesses) in the world football governing body (FIFA)’s World Cup qualifier tomorrow.

The match has been scheduled to take place at the Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia, from 4pm East African time.

Already 23 players of the Serengeti Girls are in Lusaka ahead of the encounter. The players are Mariam Shaban, Mwanaid Maulid and Salome Saint, who are goalkeepers.

Defenders are Sarah Joseph, Edina Makamba, Lidya Maximilian, Masika Mwakisua, Sarah Lucas, Kulwa Rocketi, Felister Richard and Winfrida Castor.

Midfielder are Ester Maseke, Melikia William, Naomi Samwel, Mary Arone, Semeni Juma, Sabina Alex, Jamila Celentine and Yasinta Joseph.

Strikers are Mwatima Mwarabu, Winfrida Hubert, Jamila Rajab and Asha Ramadhan. The players are under head coach Hilda Joseph, who said all the players are in good form ahead of the match and target victory.

She predicted the encounter to be tough, but said they have prepared well to face the challenge of the Zambians.

“We are surely facing a challenging task away against Zambia. However, we have committed players who are ready to do their best in the encounter,” said Joseph.  Meanwhile, Copper Princesses head coach Carol Kanyemba said they also target victory in the encounter.

Kanyemba said they had drilled ahead of the game and played build up matches.

The return leg will be held next week at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam, where the winners of the game will face Uganda or Cameroon in the third round.

Three African teams will qualify for the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to be held in the Dominican Republic after round four of the qualifiers.