•THE Zambia Under-20 soccer players celebrating after scoring against Guinea during the opening 2017 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations match at the Heroes National Stadium in Lusaka yesterday. Zambia won 1-0. Pictures by JEAN MANDELA

By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA and SANDRA MWILA At Heroes National Stadium   –
Zambia 1 Guinea 0
COACH Beston Chambeshi hailed Zambia’s hard fought win over a determined Guinea describing the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group A opening match victory as a start the team needed.
“This is a great start. A start we wanted and I am happy my players looked sharp throughout the game,” Chambeshi said in a post-match interview at the Heroes National Stadium yesterday.
Chambeshi said playing a tactically attitude side like Guinea in an opening game made life difficult and heaped praise on his players for delivering the difficult win.
His striker Patson Daka, scorer of the key goal and voted man of the match, described the win as important as it has decided Zambia’s fate at this tournament.
“We are now looking to the game against Mali, we put in a lot against Guinea but it’s already behind us and we shall give even more against Mali because of its significance,” he said knowing a win against Mali will see Zambia through to the semi-finals and at the South Korea World Cup.
The game had a cagey start with no threat on either goal in the opening 15 minutes but a lot of action on the wings especially on the right where Prosper Chilufya and Shemmy Mayembe operated.
Finally the game sprung into life in the 22nd minute when a Mayembe cross was cut out by Guinean Mohammed Aly for a corner, the corner itself headed narrow wide by Enoch Mwepu.
The fans were given something and they raised their level but it was Guinea who threatened in the 27th minute when Momo Yasane had a free header which Zambia goalie Mangani Banda easily dealt with.
Mangani Banda was later to thank the heavens when the opponent’s striker Naby Bagoura skied his shot from close range after a neat counter attack move that exposed the Zambian defence and midfielder’s ability to offer protection.
The decision to start with three out strikers was brought into question but Zambia still kept pushing for a goal and when it came on 42 minutes, from the combative Edward Musonda, it was soon called back for offside.
It was a lively end to the first half and which also saw one of the strikers Conlyde Luchanga rested for Portugal based midfielder Emmanuel Banda.
The second half started the same way the first half ended, on a high with Zambia missing two chances that looked like sure goals through Emmanuel Banda a new then Patson Daka in a space of one minute.
First, an unmarked Emmanuel Banda missed a connection from inside the six-yard box on 46 minutes before Daka failed make decent contact with the bank after been put through by Fashion Sakala a minute later.
But there was to be no mistake in the 48th minute when Daka received a pass from Boyd Musonda, as he turned cleverly leaving defenders to chase after him and easily slotted in passed an advancing goalie Sekouba Camara.
It was a good reward for a good start to the half but it was Guinea who later sustained the attacked and almost got the equaliser in the 53 minute but Yasane excellent header was met by an even better full stretch save by Mangani Banda, as the Zambian goalie needing medical attention after that.
But he easily got back on his feet as helped withstand the Guinea pressure as they looked for an equaliser.