Zambia U-20 Eyes Revenge Against South Africa in High-Stakes AFCON Derby

The Zambia Under-20 national team under the guidance of head coach Boyd Mulwanda will face regional rivals South Africa tomorrow in a highly significant clash at the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The encounter carries extra weight, serving as a COSAFA derby on the continental stage and offering Zambia a chance to avenge a recent defeat.

Coach Boyd Mulwanda minced no words about the importance of the match. “It’s very crucial and very, very important for the team. We just have to be positive and get a positive result,” Mulwanda stated.

He emphasized the necessity of securing a victory to progress further in the tournament, highlighting the high stakes for his young squad.

“The boys know the game that we need to win, a positive result for us to move to the next one.”

Adding an intriguing layer to the encounter is the recent history between the two sides. This AFCON showdown marks a COSAFA reunion, with South Africa having defeated Zambia in the COSAFA finals.

Mulwanda acknowledged this past encounter but stressed that this will be a different battle altogether.

“This will be a different game altogether. We’re meeting at AFCON, and we just also want to take that revenge and beat them. We lost two-zero, I think, here we have to make amends,” the coach declared, revealing a clear desire for retribution and a determination to right the wrongs of their previous meeting.

To achieve this, Mulwanda revealed the tactical focus of their preparations. “I think that’s what this morning we tried and come up with a session that will go all the way to finish and get the need,” he explained.

He also believes South Africa will be equally aware of the challenge. “I’m sure even they are aware that it’s not an easy game. Most of them were in Mozambique, and they saw what happened in Mozambique.”

While cautious about making definitive promises, Mulwanda assured Zambian fans of the team’s unwavering commitment. “We can’t promise you much, but what we are saying is that we are going to do our best, and we’ll give them the positive result that they desire and the team to move to the finals.”

Beyond the immediate tournament aspirations, Mulwanda also highlighted the significance of this platform for his young players. “Them will see this is their show. If whatever they do here, this is what’s going to help them to market themselves,” he stated.

“From here, but the World Cup, it will be more exposure for them, and they need a lot of challenges and different playing styles which will help them to to improve their them and thinking of their way.”

Zambia will be aiming to deliver a performance that secures a vital victory and propels them further in their AFCON journey.