By MICHAEL MIYOBA
FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Joseph “Sabobo” Banda scored a hat trick as Zambia thrashed Malawi 6-2 in a COSAFA Under-17 Championship match to qualify for the 2021 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations slated for Morocco.
The young Chipolopolo who are seeking to defend their COSAFA title at the ongoing youth championship in South Africa run riot beating as Rickson Ng’ambi and Teddy Khumalo scored the other goals for Zambia while Chifundo Mphasi scored a brace for Malawi.
The win at Gelvandale Stadium propelled Zambia who beat Angola 2-1 in their first game at the tournament to six points, two points ahead of their next opponents, South Africa who were also victorious yesterday by beating Angola.
Banda broke the deadlock in the 11th minute, beating the Malawian with a spectacular free kick from outside the 18-yard area.
Striker Rickson Ngambia made it 2-0 with another beautiful strike, beating Malawi goalkeeper, Justice Mhone with a volley.
Banda, who plays for Barcelona Academy in Lusaka grabbed his second goal a minute before half time as the young Chipolopolo went on break leading 3-0.
Zambia continued to dominate play in the second half and were on target in the 46th minute as Charles Mumba Majapa made it 4-0 with the first counter for the Chipolopolo in the second half.
The boys couldn’t stop scoring and scored their fifth goal two minutes later as Sabobo Banda completed his hat-trick before he was substituted for Thomas Mwambazi.
Chifundo Mphasi pulls one back for Malawi in the 58th minute before complete his brace in the 72 nd minute to make it 5-2.
With four minutes before the final whistle, Teddy Khumalo scored a screamer of a goal from outside the 18 yard area as Zambia won the match 6-2.
