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FAZ Media
Zambia U-20 Women's National Team coach Charles Haalubono has said that his team is ready for the must-win return leg of the 2024 Colombia FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup qualifiers against Congo DR, set for Kinshasa this Saturday. Speaking to the media before departure for Congo, Haalubono said that he has been telling his girls to be composed in front of goal away from home after failing to score more goals in the 2-2 draw at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka on Saturday. "We are ready now," Haalubono said. "I have been telling the players to be composed and concentrate more. As you saw, we created a lot of chances that we failed to utilize. We have told them to be more alert." Zambia won't have an easy game on Saturday in the return fixture, but coach Haalubono is confident that his team will record a positive result. "I know it won't be an easy game," Haalubono said. "But I have told the girls that in football, they won't have an easy game. But they have to fight, go the extra mile, and that is what we have been doing. I am very sure that we will get a positive result." Zambia's chances of progressing to the next round of qualifiers depend on them recording a win or a high-scoring draw, owing to the fact that they allowed their opponents to score two away goals in the previous match. But coach Haalubono says that his side is not under pressure going into the game. "We are not under pressure," Haalubono said. "The only thing we are supposed to do is play according to our plan." And team skipper Esther Chitete Munsaka said that the team has been preparing well and they are ready to play the game. "We are ready to go there and win the match after drawing at home," Chitete said. Playing away from home without support from fans, Chitete feels it won't affect their performance, looking at how they played at home. They won't take the game lightly, but they will need to stay calm and not be reluctant. The Zambia U-20 Women's National Team will need to put in a strong performance and be clinical in front of goal if they are to progress to the next round of qualifiers. But coach Haalubono is confident that his team has what it takes to get the job done.
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