ZAMBIA Under-20 national team on Thursday night takes on Flying Eagles Nigeria Under-20 in Ottawa in a last 16 match in George Lwandamina’s boys push for a debut FIFA Youth World Cup semifinal appearance.
The meeting will be the second between the two teams this year after earlier clashing at the Congo-Brazzaville CAF Africa Youth Championships in January.
In that match, Nigeria beat Zambia 4-2 in the two teams opening Group B match at Pointe Noire on the two opponent’s way to finishing runner-up and fourth at the tournament respectively
It has been a fairy tale ride to the pre-quarterfinals for Zambia after a dramatic preliminary group stage of matches after playing with 10-men in two of their three of allotted games.
The sent-offs however, were not enough to stop them from finishing second behind Spain following a deserved 2-0 win Uruguay in their final pool match firstly drawing 1-1 with Jordan with a 2-1 loss to the Group B toppers in the penultimate game.
Meanwhile, Lwandamina should rollout a virtually similar line-up to the one he featured against Nigeria last January as he looks for payback this time round.
But missing from the line will be suspended defender Nyambe Mulenga who was served twice with a yellow card in Zambia’s 2-0 win over Uruguay during their final Group B match on Sunday.
And so for the second time at this tournament, Lusaka Dynamos midfielder William Njovu is set to replace Nyambe in central defense after deputizing for the latter earlier in their 1-1 draw against Jordan in the teams opening Group B match.
Nyambe missed that game following a carried forward suspension from the Africa Youth Cup last January in Zambia’s 3rd and 4th playoff against Gambia that the latter won 3-1 on January 30 in Brazzaville.
Strikers Rogers Kola and Emmanuel Mayuka including influential winger Clifford Mulenga are available to lead Zambia’s pushing against the Flying Eagles.
Standing in Zambia’s way will be The Flying Eagles livewire striker Ezekiel Bala of Norwegian club Lyn who has scored two goals so far for Ladan Bosso’s team.
Winner of tonight’s match will face winner of the other last 16 match between Chile and Portugal in Montreal in the quarterfinals on July 15 for a place last four.
Watch out for Nigeria. They are fast and purposeful. They are playing as a team and are taller. We need to be mindful of this and if we can employ a technical touch and approach to the game we can make it. There should be no room for complacency. Always be on a look out for counter attacks. The senior team lost in the 1994 African Cup final through a short lapse that made Nigeria not only equalise but also punish us with another goal. Believe in yourselves and know that each game is different. Play with purpose and concentration at every point and remember that only goals count and not our usual second best. Go boys go! You can definitely do it!
Lusaka Times, a point of correction. We are seeking a quarter final slot. We are still in the second round. Four teams are ones that go into semi finals.
One observation worth noting: Our coach should concentrate on shooting too. Some of our strike force’s shooting (#19) has not been so impressive. There must be a strong emphasis on shooting and tactics that involve avoidance of some of those “compound- rife” crude tackles that we saw from our boys. At this stage please avoid them as they are automatic red card offenses and that has a tendency to cost you the game or shift the mode of play. Be on a look out for the inevitable.
Guys in Mzansi you can catch the game on Supersport 3 at about 10:30pm SA Time.
Look guys the Nigerian Team is not under 20 these guys cheat a lot. For example if Chris Katongo, Jacob Mulenga and Mbesuma were Nigerians they would all be 19 years.
# 5 you Spot on.
OK fine we lost, but we lost to men over 20 years. However we should be pround to amoung the best 16 under20’s in the whole world, something we have never achieved before. We lost with respect, just hope we shall have more players. As for Nyambe Mulenga I think you sold your friends.
OK fine we lost, but we lost to men over 20 years. However we should be pround to be amoung the best 16 under20’s in the whole world, something we have never achieved before. We lost with respect, just hope we shall have more players. As for Nyambe Mulenga I think you sold your friends.
proud
We could have actually won, we had chances to score
Thats why I dont like Nigerians. These people are crooks. They crook in everything and I will never trust them. Shame on them. I have lived with them I know what Iam talking about.
We cannot have a people who are synonimous with corruption, cheating, drugs, name them. I do not want to be part of a USA for Africa with Nigerians. The average age in the Nigerian team was around 23. Look at Okocha, he says he is 34 and yet is around 40. These people.
What about Sebastian Mwansa, Is he really U20? For how long has he been playing for GBFC? Our player are just DWARFS!