ZAMBIA Women’s U20 National Team Coach Florence Mwila says the team is shaping up well for this weekend’s crucial FIFA World Cup qualifying double header against Uganda.

Mwila is harnessing a potent blend of youth and experience, aiming to inspire her squad to make history. The ultimate prize being a debut appearance at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland later this year.

Mwila believes the composition of her current squad is key to their ambition. She has integrated talented teenagers who recently featured at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup with a core of five players who have already earned call-ups to the senior Women’s National Team.

“The team is shaping up well, at least now they are coordinated. As you may know that we have players that have just come from U17 that have joined and we had the five players that were with the senior team. So, there’s that blend and I think we’re shaping up very well and we’re ready for the task,” she said.

This mix provides a dual inspiration. For the younger players, the prospect of featuring in a second consecutive World Cup across different age groups is a powerful motivator, while for the entire squad, the goal is clear: to become the first Zambian team at this level to reach the global showpiece.

“The motivation is being the first to do it. Everyone is looking at the team that it has to qualify to the World Cup, so there’s pressure and there’s also motivation in it. We just need to know how to manage and also, we are encouraging the players that they are the ones that are going to make history. Because they’re the ones that have to be the first ones to qualify at this age group. Especially those that are coming from under 17, It means some of them would have played the under 17 World Cup and part of the under 20 World Cup. So, it’s very motivational for both us as the technical [bench] and the players as well,” said Mwila.

The upcoming tournament, the 12th edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, will be held in Poland from September 5th to 27th, 2026. It will feature 24 teams, including debutant hosts Poland, with Korea DPR entering as defending champions.

For Zambia’s rising stars, the immediate task is to navigate past Uganda over two legs. Coach Mwila’s strategy of blending World Cup-hungry youth with senior level experience will be put to the test as they embark on their quest to secure a landmark place in the history books.