The Zambia U-23 National team is confident of qualification to the final round of the TotalEnergies U23 AFCON qualifiers.
Oswald Mutapa’s side played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their penultimate round qualifier played at SKD Stadium in Monrovia Liberia last weekend.
Green Buffaloes winger Golden Mashata who won the penalty converted by Joshua Mutale in the dying minutes believes Zambia will carry the day on Saturday.
Mashata is also comforted by the availability of two 2012 AFCON winners in Kalili Kakonje and Chris Katongo on their technical bench as they provide great motivation to the team.
“I think on Saturday, you should expect a win from us. As a team we are motivated, yes it won’t be easy because we have a huge task ahead but the one point we got has motivated us and I am pretty sure we will carry the day on Saturday,” he said.
“I will continue pushing so that soon I can find myself in the senior national team.”
“They bring a lot of energy and motivation to the team. Knowing that we have got some people who won AFCON before, We also know that we can do it,” he added.
Meanwhile goalkeeper Jeban Tembo believes the team has now known how Sierra Leone play which will help them on Saturday.
“The draw away was not bad and now that we know how they will play on Saturday we will plan and we will have an advantage over them,” he said.
“I have found working under coach Kalilo Kakonje very easy because he has been helping me. I look up to him and want to take over from where he left off,” he added.
Joshua Mutale leveled matters in the dying minutes from the penalty spot to cancel out Alie Conteh’s 58th minute penalty.
The Young Copper Bullets will host Sierra Leone in the return leg on October 29th at the National Heroes Stadium.
Tickets for the match are on sale at K20 North, South Wings, K50 East, K100 West, K150 VIP and K1,000 VVIP at Webtickets Omega Mall, Northmead.
