U-20 AFCON: Mphande reveals Zambia’s “readiness” to lock horns with the Flying Eagles

Zambia is in Group C alongside Benin, Gambia, and Tunisia, whereas Nigeria is in Group A with the hosts Egypt, Senegal, and Mozambique.

The assistant coach of the Junior Chipolopolo of Zambia, Albert Mphande, has revealed the readiness of the Zambian team to face the Flying Eagles in their preparation match for the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Soccernet.ng earlier reported that the Nigerian Flying Eagles would play two friendly matches against their Zambian opponents in Abuja, Nigeria, as part of the preparations for this year’s U-20 AFCON.

The assistant coach has, however, revealed that Junior Chipolopolo is looking forward to their double header friendly against Ladan Bosso’s boys.

The 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations will take place in Egypt next month, and the two teams are among the 12 nations competing.

The Junior Chipolopolo and the Flying Eagles will face off in the first friendly on February 3, while the second friendly will be three days later.

While speaking with journalists, the assistant coach said that the Chisi Mbewe-led squad needs the three international friendly matches scheduled by the country’s football organization.

“We are really in need of these friendly games, and for some of the boys, it will be their first time to play against West African teams,” he said.

Zambia’s national under-20 football team will play Nigeria as well as Senegal, 2015, 2017, and 2019 runners-up. The assistant coach, on the other hand, said that the friendly matches would put them in an excellent position for the competition.

“It will give us some good position from where to start.

“I think in terms of readiness, physically we are about 75 percent, mentally we are almost there, and we are about 65 percent,” Mphande said.

Zambia last competed in the U20 AFCON on their home ground in 2017, winning the tournament and earning a spot in the FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan.