The Zambia U23 National Team faces Egypt in the first leg of the last round of the U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2023/ 2024 Olympic games qualifiers at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo at 18h00 today.
Zambia’s men’s football team last qualified for the Olympic games in 1988, and they will be hoping for a positive result away from home before the return leg in Ndola.
Meanwhile, team coach Oswald Mutapa has said he is aware of the Egyptian style of play and his boys are ready to take them on.
“We have looked at their statistics of the games they have played at home, I think they have won narrowly by a goal. But if we are able to defend solidly we can’t concede. They are equally a good team, good movements going forward,” Mutapa said.
Mutapa added that he is aiming to keep a clean sheet so that his team will have a bigger chance of qualifying for Africa after the return leg at home.
The gaffer will bank on Europe-based duo of Young Boys FC’s Miguel Chaiwa and Atalanta FC’s Mannah Chiwisa as well budding Power Dynamos winger Joshua Mutale and many other young stars that in the team.
Zambia advanced to the final stage of the qualifiers after defeating Sierra Leone 2-1 on aggregate following a 1-1 draw away before winning at home in Lusaka.
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Egypt, on the other hand, drew 0-0 at Leostho before defeating them 1-0 at home.
The 2023 Africa Cup will also be used as a qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympic games where the top three teams will book an automatic qualification.
