By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –
THE Zambia Under-17 and 20 soccer teams were yesterday handed tough draws for the Africa Junior and Youth Championships respectively.
According to the draws conducted at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) headquarters in Cairo, the Zambia Under-20 squad were drawn in Group B alongside bitter rivals Ghana, Mali and South Africa at the Senegal 2015 Africa Youth Championship (AYC) billed for March.
Group A has hosts Senegal, Nigeria, Congo and Cote d’Ivoire in what looks to be a tough group.
In the Niger 2015 Africa Junior Championship, the Zambia Under-17 squad will face an all-West African test in Group A that has Nigeria, Guinea and the hosts in their quest to reach the semi finals. Ivory Coast, South Africa, Mali and Cameroon make up Group B.
The semi-finalists during the two championships will represent the continent at the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup and 2015 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile and New Zealand respectively.
Zambia, the 2014 COSAFA Youth Championship champions, will kick start the campaign with a clash against Mali on March 9 at Caroline Faye Stadium before taking on the Black Satellites of Ghana three days later.
The Hector Chilombo-coached side will renew its bitter rivalry with South Africa in the final group game at the Leopold Senghor Stadium on 15 March.
Chilombo described the draw as tough saying Zambia will have to put up a brave face to achieve its target.
“I think ours is a group of death, we have been drawn against tough opponents but looking at the team that we have now, we will be equal to the task and produce desired results.
“Now that we know our opponents, we need to organise serious friendly games with teams that have the same style of play with our opponents and with proper preparations, we will reach our target of clinching a world cup slot,” Chilombo said.
The Zambia Under-17 squad, who will be making their maiden appearance at the continental youth tournament, will battle it out with in Group A together with two-time champions, Nigeria, 1995 bronze winners Guinea and hosts Niger.
Coach Chris Kaunda’s side will begin the tournament with a date against Guinea on February 15 and play hosts, Niger three days later before wrapping up their group games on February 21 with a clash against Nigeria.
Kaunda described the group as fair and that Zambia was a strong contender for the championship.
“All the teams that qualified for this tournament are good and tough enough to compete favourably. We should not look at names or history but what happens on the pitch.
“And I think being debutants gives us an edge to go all-out and conquer the West African teams because we have a good team in place,” Kaunda said.