Zambia U-23 National Team head coach Chisi Mbewe remains optimistic about his side’s chances of qualifying for the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, which also serves as Africa’s qualification pathway for the men’s football tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The Young Chipolopolo began their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Burkina Faso, a match they played just 14 hours after arriving in the country following a delayed departure from Lusaka.

Despite the defeat, Mbewe believes his team can overturn the deficit and defeat the West African side in Sunday’s return leg.

“Our expectation is beating Burkina Faso in the second leg. It’s not going to be an easy game, but we know what we want. I think you even saw we came here with an intention of not defending. We came here to play, to show what we are made of and to ensure that we win the game. But unfortunately, like I said, one mistake cost us a game. Again, we have got one more chance to go and make amends,” Mbewe said after Wednesday’s first leg.

He added: “We go back home, we rectify the mistakes that we made and ensure that we qualify to the next stage.”

The Young Chipolopolo must now beat Burkina Faso in Sunday’s return leg at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka to keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games alive.

Zambia’s men’s football team last qualified for the Olympic Games in 1988 and will be hoping for a positive result on Sunday to keep their qualification hopes alive.