The Zambia U17 National Team have missed out on a chance to play at the 2019 Niger U17 Africa Cup of Nations after they were eliminated from the ongoing Cosafa U17 tournament following a 2 – 1 loss to South Africa.
The current Cosafa U17 tournament is serving as the qualifying tournament to the 2019 finals and defending champions Zambia have failed to make the semi finals in Mauritius.
It was a winner takes all match and the Tenant Chilumba coached side came out of the blocks with guns blazing as they went ahead in the 7th minute through a Vincent Kalinda goal.
South Africa pulled one back, just 5 minutes later when Thando Buthelezi equalised with his second goal of the campaign.
Zambia pushed hard for the win to overhaul the Amajimbos at the top of the table, but were caught 10 minutes from time when Boitumelo Radiopane found a winner for the two-time champions.
South Africa advance as Group B winners and will now await the best runner-up in the semifinals.
The elimination comes just days after the U20 squad was also booted out of the qualifiers to the 2019 U20 Africa Cup of Nations finals after a humiliating loss to minnows Burundi.
2018 COSAFA U17 CHAMPIONSHIP
RESULT: South Africa 2-1 Zambia
KICKOFF: 15:00 Hours (13:00 hours Zambian time)
Venue: Francois Xavier Stadium
GROUP B
LINEUPS
ZAMBIA STARTING XI
(1) Phillip Malunga, (2) Billy Maipenzi, (4) Morgan Botha, (5) Vincent Chate, (6) Bernard Bewalya, (9) Enock Sakala, (10) Richard Ngoma, (13) Lasmond Phiri, (14) Alex Mwiinga Miyanda, (15) Benson Simwanda, (19) Vincent Kalinda
SUBSTITUTES
(16) Iford Mwale, (3) Lackson Tembo, (8) Kelvin Mwanza, (11) Toffee Musariri, (12) Peter Chikola, (18) Bisalom Mwanza, (20) Collins Tembo , (17) Daniel Tembo
SOUTH AFRICA
(1) Bontle Molefe, (2) Leonardo Rooi, (4) Athenkosi Mcaba, (5) Inathi Lawana, (6) Vusumuzi Plamana, (9) Boitumelo Radiopane, (12) Mthokozisi Balakasi, (15) Morapedi Ralenkoane, (17) Azola Tshobeni, (19) Thando Buthelezi (20) Dante Brown
Political depression back home. No government support programs. These days you never even see sports ministers at Stadium.
It’s now one bad news after another in Zambian football since Kalu left.
Kananga needs to creat and deliver now. We understand that the U20 were a creation of another administration.
I hope he has a clear vision considering that the only challenge the senior chipolopolo coach has is taking us to Afcon when we desire the world cup??
This is sad
Disaster kamanga must go. Very useless and confusion. He fired numba and elevated charles bwalya who is a perennial failure. Another blunter which joke of the year in football fratenity, he appointed oswald mutapa who was suspended by cosafa. Mutapa picked the boys and drilled them and later they gave chilumba to charge of the team. This utter rubbish.
Waiting to hear what FAZ long term plan is to solve this. So far it is not working.
I will give Kamanga and FAZ credit, because they were the first admin that actually put together friendly matches for the U20 prior to them playing Burundi.
Even with the issues in the Kalu admin, one thing was for sure. They had a plan when it came to U17 and U20. They set a clear path that started from the Coca Cola U16 championships, through to the Zone 6 games and culminated in hosting the U20 AFCON years later. This admin needs to find that plan, dust it off and replicate or draw some lessons from it.
A clear failure in leadership in Zambia has been leaders who fail to take the positives of their predecessors and build on them.
The U17 team was one of the most unprepared team ever.
They assembled for about 10 days, trained and went to a tournament.
To have even drawn, won and only lost one game shows that they had what it takes to go all the way. they were just let down by the preparations.
Can this be addressed.
Kamanga failed lamentably at Kabwe warriors what do u expect at this level????