Zambia battle for honour and redemption on Saturday against Mozambique on Saturday in a 2018 COSAFA U20 Cup Group A decider at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
Young Chipolopolo face the Young Mambas a fortnight after their senior counterparts clashed in a 2019 AFCON Group K qualifier in Maputo that saw Mozambique win 1-0 to end Zambia’s qualifying prospects.
Zambia also need to win and qualify to the semifinals on Saturday to exorcised their 2017 tournament ghost when they were eliminated in the group stage and relinquished the COSAFA U20 title as hosts after lifting it in away in South Africa in December 2016.
“If you look at the prevailing football environment in the country, our fans are disappointed with performance of the senior team and the women’s team after they were eliminated from the Women’s AFCON group stage,” Zambia Under 20 coach Bwale said.
“So definitely the fans have put their hopes on our boys. We have it at the back of our minds that we need to impress and need to put a smile on the fans faces.
“We are also very aware that we were humiliated both home and away by Mozambique so we will go to the match with at least two swords in each hand and see what we can do against the Young Mambas.”
Zambia lead Group A on maximum 6 points following 2-0 win’s over Malawi and DR Congo.
Mozambique are second on 4 points while Malawi and DR Congo are out on 1 and zero points respectively.
A draw will suffice for Zambia to finish top of Group A and book their semifinal date against Group C winners Zimbabwe on December 11 at the same venue.
Mozambique too could just qualify as best runner-up even with a defeat should Angola, who are second in Group C on 2 points, lose or draw against Zimbabwe who qualified with a match to spare.
The best runner-up from the three group competition will likely face defending champions South Africa who play winless eSwatini on Saturday at Shinde and are tied on 3 points with second placed Mauritius who have exhausted their two group matches.
Group B was cut to three teams following Namibia’s withdrawal from the tournament Zambia is hosting from December 2-14 on the Copperbelt.
