Zambia: The Zambia Under-20 boys will this evening get another opportunity to test themselves against South Sudan in a friendly match to be staged in Ismailia.
Both teams are using the practice match to fine-tune ahead of the Total Energies AFCON U20 Egypt 2023 that kicks off on Sunday.
Zambia jetted into Egypt on Friday morning as part of the wider plan for the team to acclimatize to the cooler temperatures in the Mediterranean region.
Having already played friendly matches against Nigeria and Senegal, coach Chisi Mbewe will be looking to close in on his chosen men for the tournament.
The goalkeeping department has Jeban Tembo, Levison Banda and Eric Makungu all yearning for a starting berth. At the back, it will be a battle among Lackson Tembo, Mathews Banda, Onesimus Chipango, Gift Mphande, Happy Nsiku, Lombe Mutale and Amon Chulu.
The battle for places is fiercer in midfield, where skipper Dominic Kanda, Charles Majapa, Julius Kumwenda, Ian Sindaye, Lasmond Phiri, Emmanuel Mukosha and Songa Chipyoka will be up for competition.
Upfront the options may lie in Kinsgton Mutandwa, Derrick Bulaya, Rickson Ng’ambi, Moses Mulenga and Henry Mbuti. The coaches will have one final check-up of the squad on Thursday when Zambia plays Uganda in another test match. Zambia will then head to Alexandria, where they will be based for the tournament.
Tonight’s match will kick off at 19:00 hours (CAT) to give the squad a competitive feel of a floodlit atmosphere. At the tournament, Zambia will open its account on February 21 against Benin before facing The Gambia three days later.
The final group match is against Tunisia on February 27 at Cairo International Stadium. The top two teams will qualify for the quarterfinals, while the semifinalists at the tournament will earn the right to represent Africa at the FIFA World Cup in Indonesia.
NOTE: The game will be played behind closed doors and will not be broadcast. Updates will be provided on FAZ platforms.