Zambia and Malawi meet on Monday to decide the automatic semifinal qualification spot in Group A at the 2019 COSAFA U20 Cup at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
Young Chipolopolo head into their final Group A match leading on maximum 6 points following a 5-0 win over Botswana on December 4 and 2-0 victory over Comoros on December 7.
Malawi are second on 4 points and a victory against the tournament hosts will see them through while Zambia will have to wait a bit to know whether they will qualify as the best runners-up.
The three group winners advance to the last four together with a best overall second placed side at the tournament Zambia is hosting from December 4-14 in Lusaka.
“Tough game again, they (Malawi) equally have a chance of playing in the semifinals but we won’t take it lightly and we have a day (Sunday) to prepare,” Zambia Under-20 coach Oswald Mutapa said.
Mutapa will be banking on the form of striker Francisco Mwepu who has scored a goal a game and is now on two goals heading into the final Group A match.
Meanwhile, Malawi coach Peter Mponda said he is expecting a very interesting battle for top spot against Zambia.
“It will be a cracker having watched Zambia the way they play. They have a very good team, strong on the ball, they like switch play, I don’t know if they will switch their tactics but I don’t think they will change,” Mponda said.
“But if we guard against those long balls, I think we can get the three points and qualify to the next round.”
Bwana mutapa, there you are. Long balls in the air, which Comoros keeper being tall was able to harvest.
Zambia needs to finish off Malawi to at list 6 goals to zero
Is HH playing?