U23 Update: Early bird Emmanuel Banda targets Olympic qualification and gold medals

By Patson Kawewe | November 5, 2019

Kv Oostende midfielder Emmanuel Banda is excited to have joined the Zambia U23 camp early as they continue to prepare for the upcoming AFCON U23 tournament which starts this Friday.

Banda who joined the ‘Bola na Lesa’ camp in the early hours of today as made it clear that he is targeting helping them team clinch the gold medals and qualify for the Olympics.

“It is a great feeling joining my friends and the fact that I have joined early will make it easy for me to build up with the team and get on the same physical level and also the team chemistry, ” Banda told the ZamFoot Crew from Egypt.

The Zambia U23 National Team begins the tournament on Saturday against rivals South Africa a match Banda is expecting to be tough and has urged his teammates to work hard.

“South Africa as always been our rival and so it is going to be a good game probably the hardest game of the group. If we win the South Africa game then we are well and good and it’s always important to win the first game.”

We are targeting to win a medal, especially the gold medal and qualify for the Olympics

Banda was part of the squad for this morning’s training session at the El Nasr Sports Club in Cairo. Zambia is in group B alongside South Africa, Nigeria and Ivory Coast.

The top three teams at the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.