ZAMBIA SINK WASTEFUL ESWATINI U-20S

LOBAMBA – Zambia’s Young Chipolopolo have burst Eswatini’s bubble to march closer to the knockout stage of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Under-20 Youth Championships.

The tournament doubles as the TOTALEnergies Under-20 Africa Cup on Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers. Zambia beat the host nation, Eswatini, 2-0 in an entertaining match played at the Somhlolo National Stadium yesterday.  

troublesome

The Mduduzi Nxumalo-led side who were in chase of their second straight win after beating Botswana 2-1 in the opener, were the first to attack a minute into the game when Banele Nkambule’s well taken shot missed the target from the troublesome Sinenkosi Dlamini’s gift wrapped cross. Zambia should have opened the score board minutes later as Rickson Ng’ambi’s shot narrowly missed the target, with Eswatini goalkeeper Siyabonga Magagula beaten. Eswatini were unfortunate not to take the lead 30 minutes into the game when Sizwe Khumalo was denied by the woodwork from Nkambule’s cross. Zambia eventually found the back of the net seven minutes after the half-hour mark through Emmanuel Mukhosha, who controlled brilliantly a cross let fly a cracker which rested in the far corner of the net, leaving Magagula sprawled on the artificial turf. The visitors doubled the lead six minutes after the hour mark through Lombe Mutale from close range after receiving a well weighted cross from Ng’ambi.

final

The host tried to half the deficit but failed to break the Zambian defence until the referee blew the final whistle to signal the end of the match. Zambia lead the pack with six points, with Eswatini relegated to the third spot after the loss and Botswana, who saw-off Mauritius by 1-0 are on second spot. Eswatini will be looking to keep the their hope of qualifying to the next round in 20 years alive by beating the already disqualified Mauritius who are rooted at the bottom of Group A table without a point on Tuesday. They now hope to qualify as a best runners-up, as topping the group is now a distant dream.

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