Zambia: Zambia will this evening look to bounce back from defeat against Nigeria in their opening Group B game of the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Algeria 2023 with their second group match against South Africa.
Kick-off at the Mohamed Hamlaoui stadium in Constantine will be at 21h00CAT, and the match will be live on SuperSport and Top Star.
The junior Chipolopolo were narrowly defeated 1-0 by the Golden Eaglets in their opening match and will be meeting an Amajimbos side that fell 2-0 to North Africans Morocco on 30 April.
It will be the third time in five months that the two COSAFA giants will be meeting, with the last two encounters at the COSAFA Championship in Malawi going 1-0 in favour of Zambia, who went on to lift the title at Bingu National Stadium.
Today’s match will therefore provide room for South Africa to get revenge while Zambia will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run and keep their hopes of a quarter-final spot alive.
Having produced vital saves in the Nigeria match, including a late penalty, Shadreck Kalyati will likely start in goal supported by Charles Kampamba, Sekanji Siame, Aaron Simpasa, Milimo Nalumango or Josiah Kabandula.
Obviously, Mwaliteta Junior, Lweendo Chimuka and David Hamasenya are all available at the back for this vital clash. Skipper Aaron Mbemba Phiri will command the midfield, with Joseph Liteta, Emmanuel Mwanza, Josim Sikazwe, Samson Malaya or Stanley Nyamikwe expected to complete numbers.
Marcel Zimba, who scored when the two teams met in a Group B A clash at the TotalEnergies U17 AFCON Algeria 2023 | COSAFA Qualifier in Lilongwe looks set to start in front alongside Luketekelo Kapowa or Linecker Mbesuma.
The top four teams at this year’s U17 AFCON will earn slots in the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup penciled to take place later this year.