The Zambia U23 National Team has progressed to the final round of the Morocco 2023 U23 AFCON Qualifiers.
This follows the Young Bullets 1-0 win at the National Heroes Stadium to edge Sierra Leone 2-1 on aggregate.
The Oswald Mutapa tutored outfit came into the match on the back of a 1-1 draw played in Monrovia, Liberia.
It was Substitute Andrew Phiri who was the hero of the day as he netted a beautiful goal in the 66th minute to send the Stadium into a frenzy.
The match started on a slow note but it was Zambia who looked dangerous early on, Golden Mashata sent his shot wide in the 24th minute with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Patrick Gondwe had a chance to open the scores at the half hour mark after Zambia were awarded a free kick at the edge of the box but he hit into the wall.
Mashata had another chance to put Zambia in the lead after getting through on goal in the 37th minute but again his weak shot was easily dealt with by the Sierra Leone goalie.
The match went to the break level at 0-0.
In the second half Sierra Leone came back looking a little more determined with John Camara proving to be a menace in the Zambia flesh.
At the hour mark Mutapa made two changes introducing Andrew Phiri and Chipyoka Songa for Patrick Gondwe and Golden Mashata.
Phiri needed only six minutes to make a mark as he netted a beautiful goal to put Zambia in the lead.
Zambia almost added a second with a beautiful move that saw Joshua Mutale free on goal but it was flagged for offside.
The Young Bullets held on to win the match, 1-0 and 2-1 on aggregate to secure qualification to the final round of qualifiers.
Zambia will now face Egypt or Eswatini in the final round to be played next March.
Well done chipolopolo you have made us proud gentlemen, work hard next maches are not a push over Egypt has been giving us problems,but with eswatini we may be lucky though mordern football is not predictable,go Zambia go, Zambia ku chalo,na world cup tulesenda imwe
Thumbs up 👍👍👍👍👍 guys let’s conquer the Odds.
Go Zambia!
[email protected]
Anyone want to buy the remaining garbage in my house? I have no money and can’t hold down a job because of my alcoholism.
Well done Young men. Keep our Flag flying higher.
You are our pride and you make us proud. We wish you more successes as you get united in the Field of pray to score more Goals. God bless you all.
Go Zambia go keep on netting pankafye likatulike ilyaba Egypt as well,, while u managed ukutula our own net, ilyesu, so what Moooooook??????
Where is Mwaka Nakapila?
Where is Faz Lombard? Oh! Here in Sydney and still unemployed and addicted to smack, molly and grog. Keep it flowing! How can alcohol be legal, beats me but I’ll keep smashing it and letting my family down and blaming my employer, which changes each week BTW. I am unemployable, clearly. Even the employment agencies have dropped me.
[email protected]