Zambia U17 Assistant Coach Aaron Kawangu Reacts to FIFA U17 World Cup Draw

Zambia U17 assistant coach Aaron Kawangu has expressed optimism following the official draw for the FIFA U17 World Cup, which took place in Doha. Zambia has been placed in Group H alongside football giants Brazil, as well as Indonesia and Honduras.

Speaking shortly after the draw, Kawangu described the occasion as exciting and historic, with this year’s edition being especially significant as it features 48 teams.

“We just witnessed the final draws for the World Cup Under-17 here in Doha. It’s pretty exciting, especially because this event is going to be special, with 48 teams taking part, and Zambia is one of them,” he said.

Despite being grouped with traditionally strong teams, Kawangu emphasized that modern football no longer has underdogs. He highlighted the global improvement in the game and insisted that success will depend largely on preparation.

“In today’s football, there are no underdogs. We’ve seen how football is improving on the global stage. The most important thing is how well you prepare. If the preparation is adequate, the chances are very high—not just to participate, but to compete,” Kawangu explained.

He also expressed respect for the group opponents but maintained confidence in the team’s potential.

“We’ve got massive respect for every team in our group, but we believe if we prepare adequately, we’ve got a chance to pull through,” he concluded.

Zambia will be hoping to make a strong impression on the world stage as they prepare for a challenging yet promising journey in Group H.