MUTAPA HINTS ON JUNIOR CHIPOLOPOLO CHANGES IN WEDNESDAY’S FINAL GROUP A MATCH

By Lucky Mwewa Chama | October 16, 2019

Zambia Under-17 National Team Coach Osward Mutapa says he will make some changes to the starting eleven in todays Group A encounter against the Junior Flames of Malawi in Blantyre.

Mutapa said the changes are due to the injuries on some of the players that have started the first two opening encounters for the Junior Chipolopolo side against Eswatini and South Africa.

Mutapa named Chipyoka Songa has the only player with a serious injury that has ruled him out of the clash against the host nations. However, Mutapa is optimistic that Songa will be back for the semi clash against Angola.

He said other players only had minor knocks and will be rested as precautionary measures.

“We will make a few changes but at the end of the day, we want to get 100% from the group. We will do some changes whilst in training, look which players will be readily available because we have some that are injured, so those that will be ready to play, that’s what we are going to pick,” Mutapa said.

“We have one who has a serious injury but I think by the time we will be playing the semifinal he will be ready, others are knocks and we wouldn’t want to risk so those that are fit and ready to play, will play the game.”

The Zambia Under-17 has been in scintillating form in the first two matches having brushed aside Eswatini 6-0 before thumping South Africa 7-0.

Rickson Ng’ambi is currently Zambia’s top goalscorer at the ongoing Championships in Blantyre while seven other players have registered their names on the score-sheet in the two matches.

The Young Flames of Malawi started with a 3-0 win over South Africa before they were left shocked by Eswatini who beat them by 2-1.

Malawi will need to avoid defeat against Zambia to progress to the semi-finals of the tournament while Eswatini can still qualify for the semi-finals should both Malawi and Eswatini lose to Zambia and South Africa respectively. A win for Eswatini takes them through to the next round alongside Zambia.

Head-to-head is used by COSAFA in the first instance to separate two or more teams that finish level on points, after which goal-difference becomes the next decider. Zambia will play Malawi at 14:00Hrs at Mpira Stadium.