Road to Tokyo U23 Opposition Watch: Burundi, Congo Brazzaville share spoils

Zambia U23 national team possible opponents Burundi and Congo Brazaville on Wednesday afternoon played out to a goalless draw in the Egypt 2019 CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier played in Burundi.

The hosts created more and had the chances to win the game especially in the second half but they failed to find the back of the net.

Burundi coach Omar Ntakagero said his team could still overturn the result away.

“I am hopeful we will get a result in the second leg game.”

“Congo Brazzaville Red Devils are not strong enough to defeat my team.”

“I have seen their performance, so the next match I am sure my team will do something great,” he added

The second return match is scheduled on Tuesday, 26 March 2019 in Congo Brazzaville.

The winner over the two legs will face the winner between Zambia and Malawi.

About the 2019 African U-23 Cup of Nations

The 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualification is a men’s under-23 football competition which decides the participating teams of the 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.

The Tournament features on players who were born 1 January 1997 or later. A total of eight teams qualify to play in the final tournament, including Egypt who qualified automatically as hosts. These matches also serve as the first stage of the CAF qualifiers for the 2020 Summer Olympics men’s football tournament in Japan.

The 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations will be the 3rd edition of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, the quadrennial international age-restricted football championship organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the men’s under-23 national teams of Africa.

The tournament was initially scheduled to take place in Zambia, but they withdrew from hosting in July 2017.  Egypt was announced as the new host nation of the tournament by CAF on 23 September 2017.