Defending champions Zambia completed the group stage of the 2024 COSAFA U17 Championship with a flawless record, winning all three matches.
Zambia began their title defense with an emphatic 8-0 win over Namibia, followed by a commanding 5-1 victory against Zimbabwe.
Their latest victory, a narrow 1-0 win over Eswatini, sets the stage for a semifinal clash in two days. Head coach Ian Bakala expressed confidence in his team’s readiness.
“We are here to defeat any team. There is nothing like South Africa or Botswana or something—no. We are champions; we just have to defend,” Bakala declared.
The hard-fought win over Eswatini capped their group-stage dominance.
Bakala believes Zambia’s strong performances have instilled fear in their opponents but emphasized the importance of strategic planning as the competition enters the knockout stage.
“We are champions, and we have to defend it. Any country, any team—I think they are afraid of us. We just have to plan well as we go into the semifinals,” he said.
In their final group-stage match, Zambia fielded a rotated squad, which impacted their overall performance.
Bakala justified the decision to ensure key players are rested and ready for the tougher knockout stages ahead.
“For us, we looked at the recovery of players, looking at the position we were in. We were topping the group, so we knew this game was the time to use everyone. At least these guys will have time to recover. Looking at the semifinal, I think it’s more challenging than the group stage. We just need a total rest so they recover well,” Bakala explained.
The semifinal holds extra significance, as teams that reach the final will secure qualification for the 2025 U17 AfCON tournament.
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