The Zambia U-23 National team are expecting a tough game tomorrow when they square off with their Sierra Leone counterparts in a Morocco 2023 AFCON qualifier second round second leg encounter.
Head Coach Oswald Mutapa is however confident the team will fight to get a win so that they can qualify to the final qualification round.
Joshua Mutale scored a late penalty won by Golden Mashata to secure a vital 1-1 draw away in Monrovia in the first leg.
Defender Brian Musema has been ruled out of the game due to an injury while defensive midfielder Christopher Katongo is a doubt after he pickup a knock in training on Thursday.
“Getting a draw was Important so that you finish off the game here. It won’t be an easy game, Sierra Leone is not a pushover so we need to fight for us to qualify for the next stage. The Boys are eager for the game,” Mutapa told the ZamFoot Crew.
“Yes we have injury concerns, Brian Musama is out of the game due to injury and Christopher Katongo suffered a knock yesterday but we made reinforcements and we should be able to fight and carry the day.”
“We want to score in open play because I feel we had good chances but we failed to utilize them. We have been training on finishing. Hopefully we can get a few goal scoring chances and score one or two then defend bravely.”
The Zambia U-20 secured their slot at the 2023 AFCON after winning the COSAFA tournament and Mutapa wants his team to emulate what their young brothers did in Eswatini.
“Yes we are happy the U-20 are COSAFA Champions giving us pressure to emulate them. Pressure is part of football, we just need to take it and put it in a positive light,” he said.
On Sierra Leone Mutapa said: They don’t attack with a lot of players. At home they had two holding midfielders but they gave good wingers and a very good target man. I think we have done enough to make sure we cut supply to those players. We are going into this game with a positive mindset that we will definitely win.”
Skipper of the side Patrick Gondwe says the morale in camp is high and the Boys know what’s at stake.
” It won’t be an easy game, they will come here to fight so as a team we need character to fight and carry the day,” he said.
“The morale is high in camp, we know what’s at stake so we just have to work extra hard tomorrow and win.”
The Young Copper Bullets will host Sierra Leone in the return leg tomorrow 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.
The winner over both legs will play Egypt or Eswatini in the final qualifying round next March.
