Friday, March 29, 2024

Zambia U20 captain declares team ready for Burundi

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Zambia Under-20 captain Albert Kangwanda says they are ready for the big date against Burundi on Saturday in their 2019 U20 AFCON final round, first leg qualifier at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.

The defending champions seek their first home win in the qualifiers that will put them one foot into next year’s tournament in Niger.

Zambia eliminated Rwanda in the second round in May winning 2-0 away on May 12 in Kigali and drawing 1-1 in Lusaka on May 19 to advance to the final stage after enjoying a first round bye.

“As players we are very much confident. We are working together as a team and hopefully in tomorrow’s game we will give the fans a goal,” Kangwanda said.

“We expect Burundi to come in strong but with the spirit that we have in the team, we are ready to take them on and kill them from here.”

Burundi are unbeaten in the qualifiers with three wins and a draw after toiling from the first round where they beat Ethiopia home and away before dispatching Sudan that started with a 1-1 home result and later winning 2-0 away to secure their decider date against Zambia.

Meanwhile, Kangwanda said they are also hoping to overcome visitors’ physical presence that has raised eyebrows in the build-up to the game.

“Football is not about the appearance, football is about intelligence,” the Zambia captain and midfielder said.

“They can come as giants but the boys believe in themselves and we are ready to take them on.”

The final leg will be played on July 21 at Ngozi with the winner over both legs clinching the ticket to next February’s finals.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Go ahead and make us proud, yours is a developmental stage therefore, have fun on the pitch. Don’t mind the nay sayers. He behind you our boys.

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