The Zambia under-20 national team will face Angola in the Semi-finals of the TotalEnergies under-20 AFCON Egypt 2023/ COSAFA Qualifier this afternoon at Somhlolo stadium in Eswatini.
Zambia topped Group A with nine points while Angola qualified to the semi-finals after finishing as group best runners-up with six points.
Zambia coach Chisi Mbewe said that today’s game is the most important game that his side will play at the tournament and has described it as a final before the actual final match as it holds the keys to their AFCON qualification.
” Tomorrow’s game is a very important game for us, we know that it’s a game that is holding our key for us to qualify to the AFCON in Egypt, so it’s a very important game for us, so we just have to continue working hard and doing the right thing that we have been doing, that’s why I keep saying that today’s game against Angola is the final before the actual final match as it will be a decisive game for us to qualify to the AFCON,” he said
Mbewe added that he believes this is the right time to rewrite history and qualify for the AFCON.
“I believe that this is the right time because it has been a long time since Zambia qualified for the under-20 AFCON, so I believe this is the best time for us to qualify the team for the AFCON.”
The Young Chipolopolo boys started their campaign with a 3-0 win over Mauritius before edging Eswatini 2-0 and wrapped up Group A with a 1-0 win over Botswana to advance to the semifinals without conceding a goal..
Zambia will now look to maintain their one hundred percent winning record and book a ticket for the 2023 Egypt U-20 AFCON for the first since in 5 years having last qualified for the competition in 2017 when they hosted and won it.
Meanwhile in the other semi final today, Group B winners Mozambique will play Group C runners up South Africa in a Lunchtime kick-off.
The finalists will qualify for the 2023 Egypt TotalEnergies AFCON unde-20 as representatives of the COSAFA region.
