U17s Push For AFCON Qualification

Young Chipolopolo will today take on the Malawian national team as part of the COSAFA Men’s Under-17 Championship. The stakes are high as the finalists of this year’s tournament will secure a place in the Africa Under-17 Cup of Nations scheduled to take place in Morocco next year. 

The Zambian team, who are the defending champions, kicked off the tournament with a 2-1 win over Angola this weekend. They were originally due to face Comoros, who they beat on Friday. However, Comoros was one of four teams kicked out for age-cheating on Friday, along with Botswana, Zimbabwe and Eswatini meaning the match did not count. 

The tournament will now see Zambia, South Africa. Malawi and Angola compete for the two AFCON spots. The final is due to take place on November 29. 

Malawi played South Africa at the weekend, with a 2-2 draw the result. 

Speaking ahead of the match Zambian Coach George Chilufya said, “The Angola game is history now. All our focus and energy go towards the Malawi game. We shall still stick to our target which is to qualify to the AFCON, but we have to win the COSAFA and beating Malawi will give us an advantage.” 

“Today’s game is as important as the Angola match; we have to go all out for a win because this is what we came for to ensure that we defend the tournament which we won last year,” he continued.  

Chilufya is expected to field the same team as he started with against Angola. Goal-scorers from the Angola match Charles Majapa Mumba and Rickson N’gambi are expected to lead the frontline. 

The match will be played at Gelvandale stadium at 15:30hours and will be streamed live on Cosafa.tv.