Coach Chisi Mbewe’s Young Chipolopolo will this afternoon have their first test match when they face off with Nigeria’s Flying Eagles.
The Young Bullets arrived in Abuja yesterday and had a feel of the Moshood Abiola Stadium which is the venue for today’s international friendly match.
The match pits together the WAFU B champions and the Cosafa kings, a good test for both teams ahead of the continental showpiece.
Jeban Tembo is expected to start between the sticks with Gift Mphande, Happy Nsiku, Amon Chulu and Lombe Mutale.
In midfield skipper Dominic Kanda will most likely be partnered with Julius Kumwenda and Charles Majapa Mumba.
In attack Kingston Mutandwa, Rickson Ng’ambi and Chipyoka Songa will be expected to lead the team’s charge for glory.
Meanwhile Flying Eagles coach, Isah Ladan Bosso is expected to rely on the likes of Captain Ibrahim Yahaya, Hamzat Basit Ojediran,Thompson Ishaka, Abel Ogwuche, Kenny Coker, and Michael Ologo.
Zambia won the 2017 Africa U20 Cup of Nations which they hosted, and then reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Korea Republic the same year, before losing to Italy after extra time in Suwon.
Nigeria on the other hand are seven time Champions of the continental showpiece.
Both teams are using the match that kicks off at 17:00 hours CAT as part of their preparations for the TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON 2023 to be held in Egypt starting on February 19 to March 11.
Zambia is in Group C alongside Tunisia, Benin and Gambia while hosts Egypt, Senegal and Mozambique in Group A.
Top four teams at the AFCON will qualify to the FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Indonesia.
