By Vincent Obi
Lusaka – Zambia made a resounding statement in the first leg of the fourth and final round of the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, defeating Morocco 3-1 on home soil on Saturday.
The star of the show was the prolific Namute Chileshe, who netted the sensational hat-trick to put her side in the driving seat ahead of the return fixture.
The young Zambian striker wasted no time in announcing her presence, taking the initiative to open the scoring in the 13th minute.
Demonstrating her blistering pace and astute reading of the game, Chileshe found herself one-on-one with the Moroccan goalkeeper and coolly slotted home a powerful low drive that left the Lionesses of Atlas defense helpless.
Just ten minutes later, Chileshe embarked on a solo run, showcasing her individual brilliance to double Zambia’s advantage.
Her clinical strike seemed to wake up the Moroccan side, who responded through Azraf Kautar’s goal, reducing the deficit.
However, Zambia’s motivation and offensive prowess proved too much for their opponents, as Chileshe completed her hat-trick towards the end of the match, sealing a comprehensive 3-1 victory for the hosts.
The two teams will lock horns again on Saturday, with fans eagerly awaiting to see which side will secure their place in the U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
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