Zambia U-17 national team brilliant COSAFA outing ended in tears as the junior Copper Bullets suffered heartbreak in the final losing to South Africa on post-match penalties.
The George Chilufya tutored side came into the match having won all their three group games and already sealed their qualification to the TOTAL U-17 AFCON, Morocco 2021.
Zambia took the early advantage in the final when they were awarded a penalty that was put away by Joseph Banda, who netted his fifth goal of the competition. But South Africa won a spot-kick of their own at the other end and Thabang Mahlangu leveled matters for the hosts.
Zambia came close on several occasions but could not find a winner and after 94 minutes the referee blew the final whistle to send the match straight to penalties.
South Africa went on to win 4-2 as they converted their penalties through Simthandile Sishi, Yamkale Phalane, Lyema Dopolo, and Lindokuhle Mbutho while Zambia scored through Julius Kumwenda and Charles Mumba with skipper Miguel Chaiwa and Rickson Ng’ambi missing their spot-kicks.
Zambia was awarded the fair play award, Joseph Banda’s five goals earned him the golden boot award and he will be heading to Spain thanks to the COSAFA partnership with La Liga alongside player of the tournament Mduduzi Shabalala.
Awards:
Fair Player Award – Zambia
Goalkeeper of the Tournament – Eric Makungu (Zambia)
Top Scorer with five goals – Joseph Sabobo Banda (Zambia)
Player of the Tournament – Mduduzi Shabalala (South Africa).
Spain Bound Players – Joseph Sabobo Banda (Zambia) and Mduduzi Shabalala (South Africa)
Well done boys. I wonder what would have happened to you in that country if you won.
Penalty shootouts are always a gamble.
But ,congratulations to the young Bullets on making this final and qualifying for major U17 tournament.
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