Zambia’s U-20 national team begin their 2026 COSAFA Championship campaign against neighbours Malawi on Friday, with qualification for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations the ultimate prize.
The Junior Chipolopolo face Malawi at Zimpeto Stadium in Maputo at 15:00 CAT (13:00 GMT) in a repeat of one of southern Africa’s longstanding football rivalries.
This year’s COSAFA U-20 Championship, running from 18 to 27 September in Mozambique, doubles as the region’s qualifying tournament for the 2027 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.
Only the two finalists will qualify for the continental tournament, increasing the importance of every match in the competition.
Zambia are the most successful nation in the history of the regional championship, having won a record 12 titles, including the inaugural tournament in 1983.
South Africa are second with 10 titles, while Zimbabwe have six. Madagascar and hosts Mozambique have each won the competition once. Those five nations account for all 30 championships played through 2025.
Zambia head coach Perry Mutapa is aware of the importance of making a positive start.
“As a team we know the importance of doing well in the first game, as it sets the tone. But of course, we know why we are here. Yes, it’s a COSAFA tournament, but the ultimate is to qualify for the Africa Cup. So in all tournaments, I think the first game is always important,” he said.
Malawi coach Enos Chatama, meanwhile, believes his squad has the quality to challenge Zambia.
The two sides have met previously at COSAFA level, and Chatama says that experience could benefit his players.
“We have what it takes to face Zambia because we have met them before in COSAFA. The boys have improved, the morale is sky-high in camp and we have a strong team,” said Chatama.
Chatama has also pointed to the international experience within his squad, including foreign-based players Yusuf Natunga, Mwisho Mhango and Eli Rundles.
He believes their exposure outside Malawi can provide an additional dimension to the team.
Mutapa turns to U-17 World Cup graduates
Mutapa’s Zambia squad contains several players who featured in the national U-17 side that reached the last 16 at the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Christo Chitambala is expected to start in goal ahead of Hendrix Kanyungulu, while captain Tumelo Mununga will provide leadership in midfield.
Mununga, a product of Shamuel Academy who now plays for CD Leganés in Spain, is expected to operate alongside Green Eagles midfielder Duncan Musialela.
At the back, Red Bull Salzburg-bound Jonathan Kalimina is set to partner Charles Kampamba, with Andrew Mwape and Joseph Shankandi completing the expected defensive unit.
Further forward, U-17 World Cup graduates Abel Salim Nyirongo, Daniel Silubonde and Billy Daka are among those competing for places in the attack.
Zambia will be hoping the experience gained by the younger players on the global stage can help them navigate a tournament where the margin for error is small.
The Junior Chipolopolo missed out on the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations last year after a group-stage exit and will be determined to return to the continental competition.
Zambia targeting another continental success
Zambia’s most recent and only U-20 Africa Cup triumph came in 2017, when Beston Chambeshi’s side won the tournament on home soil.
That success also secured qualification for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea, where Zambia reached the quarter-finals.
The next target is Ghana 2027.
The top two teams in Mozambique will represent COSAFA at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, which is scheduled to take place in February and March 2027.
The regional qualification picture should become clearer on 25 September, when the semi-finals are played.
The Group B winners will meet the Group C winners at ABB 2 at 12:00 CAT (10:00 GMT), while the Group A winners will face the best runner-up at the same venue at 18:00 CAT (16:00 GMT).
Victory in either semi-final will guarantee qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations as well as a place in the COSAFA final.
After a rest day, the tournament concludes on 27 September, with the two losing semi-finalists meeting in the third-place play-off at 11:00 CAT before the final at 14:00.
The 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup will be co-hosted by Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, giving the next generation of Zambia players another major international target beyond the continental championship.
For now, however, Mutapa’s focus is firmly on Malawi — and ensuring Zambia’s bid for a record-extending 13th COSAFA U-20 title starts with three points.
