Zambia Under-17 goalkeeper Kumbu Nyirenda says the team’s recent participation in a four-nation tournament in Morocco has given them a better understanding of what to anticipate at this year’s Under-17 AfCON.
The Ian Bakala-coached side lost all three matches: 5-0 to defending champions Senegal, 1-0, and 2-1 to Egypt and Morocco, respectively.
The AfCON tournament that will serve as a qualifier for the Under-17 FIFA World Cup will run from 30th March to 19th April in Morocco.
Zambia is in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Speaking during the team’s training in Lusaka, Nyirenda said the Morocco outing provided the players with much insight into the competition they are expecting at the tournament.
“Our Goal Is To Qualify For The World Cup”- Kumbu.
“Preparations are going quite okay. The team is pushing. We had the tournament; we saw the style of play that is at the Africa Cup of Nations. So, we’re preparing very well. Yeah. We’re putting more effort. It was a good start for us because three quarters of the team had never been there,” Nyirenda said.
Nyirenda states the team will be ready to compete when the tournament starts as they aim to qualify for the U-17 World Cup.
“I’ve never been to the Africa Cup of Nations. So those teams we played against, they have been there before. So, we wanted to have insight into how the Africa Cup of Nations is,” Nyirenda said.
“It’s very important for us because we have one goal: to qualify for the World Cup, and we are pushing so much to get out of the group stage. We are very much confident because we had the preparations before, so we know the level of football and how we should prepare very well.”
