Coach Daka Reflects on Zambia’s 5-1 Victory over Zimbabwe: “We Knew It Wouldn’t Be Easy”

Zambia U17 Girls’ coach Carol Kanyemba Daka praised her team’s composure and tactical discipline after a commanding 5-1 win over Zimbabwe in the semifinal of the 2025 COSAFA Girls’ U17 Championship.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Coach Daka acknowledged that despite the scoreline, the encounter was far from straightforward.

“The game was tough. Zimbabwe had picked up well in the group stages. We warned our girls that it wasn’t going to be easy,” she said. “Ironically, Zimbabwe’s big win in their final group game helped us, it motivated our players to prepare mentally for a tough battle.”

Zambia took a narrow 1-0 lead into halftime, but Coach Daka revealed that key tactical adjustments at the break made all the difference.

“We had many chances in the first half but didn’t take them. At halftime, we told the girls to stay calm, retain possession, and use the width. We noticed Zimbabwe’s fullbacks and centre-backs were a bit slow, and we exploited that.”

The strategy worked brilliantly, as Zambia netted four goals in the second half to book their place in the final.

However, despite the dominant display, the coach highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in defense.

“We conceded a very silly goal. Our goalkeeper underrated the pass. We need to wake up our defense and goalkeeping department ahead of the final. These are lessons, and we must learn from them.”

Looking ahead to the final, Coach Daka emphasized the importance of focus and not resting on their semifinal success.

“Today’s game is water under the bridge. The final won’t be any easier. We must concentrate more than 100% if we want to defend the trophy.”

Zambia face Malawi in the final.