Junior Chipolopolo gear up for Cosafa Under-20

Zambia Under-20 have intensified training ahead of next month’s Total Energies AFCON Under-20 Egypt 2023 | COSAFA Qualifier in Eswatini from rom October 7-16.

The Chisi Mbewe coached side has been training in Lusaka for the past 2 weeks.

The technical bench which also includes Alfred Lupiya, George Chilufya and Albert Mpande have trimmed the squad from initial 43 to 25.

The bulk of the team are graduates from the Under-17 sides.

Maestro United striker Rickson Ng’ambi has been re-united with Joseph Sabobo Banda.

Charles Majapa Mumba and Kingstone Mutandwa are the other names to look out for.

Zambia is in Group A alongside host Swaziland, Mauritius and Botswana.

The other two groups in the continental qualifier will get under way on October 8 when a bumper four matches will be played.

Angola takes on Lesotho at the Mavuso Stadium (kick-off 12h00) in the Group B opener, while later in the day, defending champions Mozambique play Seychelles at the same venue (15h30).

Group C sees eight-time winners South Africa take on Malawi at the Somhlolo Stadium (12h00 CAT), before Namibia tackle Comoros at the same venue at 15h30 CAT.

The competition will continue in a round-robin format with the last group games to be played on October 12.

The semifinals on October 14 will see the winner of Group B take on the top team in Group C, while the winner of Group A plays the best-placed runner-up from the three pools.

The final and third-place play-off will both be played on October 16 at the Somhlolo Stadium.

COSAFA’s Under-20 tournament is the zonal preliminary competition for the TotalEnergies 

AFCON U20 Egypt 2023 that will be held in Egypt from February 18-March 12 next year.

The two finalists in Eswatini will qualify.

That CAF event in turn serves as the qualifier for the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia, so the long road to the global finals begins in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Mozambique are the defending Champions.