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…Zambia open with Malawi in COSAFA U-20 AFCON qualifiers By BENEDICT TEMBO ZAMBIA open the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations /COSAFA Qualifier Mozambique 2026 against eastern neighbours Malawi in a potentially decisive Group ‘C’ match at Zimpeto Stadium in Maputo today.Comoros and Botswana, the other teams in Group ‘C’, clash tomorrow.The Zambian side under the watch of Perry Mutapa were in residential camp for almost two weeks preparing for the COSAFA tournament that also doubles as Africa Under-20 qualifier.Although the period may appear insufficient to come up with a team to effectively compete at the tournament, Mutapa will fall back on the talent and pedigree of some members of his team who have played at the highest level.Joseph Kaliminina, Andrew Mwape, Christol Chitambala, Abel Nyirongo, Billy Daka and Daniel Silubonde pack tournament experience having played at the COSAFA Under-17, TotalEnergies Africa Under-17 junior tournament and the Under-17 World Cup in Doha.The six should form the back bone of the team and inspire their team mates.Speaking before departure on Wednesday, Under-20 first assistant coach Sipho Mumbi declared the team ready going by how they have prepared. “I think the boys are ready. Our primary objective is to make sure that we qualify. Of course it won’t be easy, but looking at how the boys have shown in the training that we’ve had, I think we look forward to that and that’s our primary objective,” Mumbi said.He said it had been a while since Zambia, the 12-time COSAFA youth champions last won the Under-20 tournament.Mumbi however admitted that it won’t be easy.“But we are very confident with the boys that we’ve carried that they’re going to do the job,” he said. Under-20 striker Sipho Muntanga said after two weeks of preparation the chemistry is there. “We have put in the work, all the boys are fit. So, I think we are going there with a plan and the plan is to win the COSAFA. I think we are very much prepared to do so.”Muntanga added: “We have a great squad, we have great individuals, great spirit and altogether we have the mentality. I’m pretty sure that we are going to go all the way and achieve our objectives that we have set out,” he said.Malawi coach Enos Chatama said 21 players out of the 28 have undergone proper development, having played together in previous tournaments.Chatama believes Malawi are ready for the tournament, starting with Zambia today.According to COSAFA, Zambia remain the benchmark in the competition, but Malawi provide a significant threat after reaching the final of the 2025 Region 5 Games, where they lost 3-0 to South Africa.With only one guaranteed semi-final place available from the group, neither will want to begin by dropping points.Ends.Fixtures:-September 18, Zimpeto stadiun15 hours: Zambia vs Malawi.September 19, Zimpeto stadiun18 hours: Comoros vs Botswana.September 21, ABB 211 hours: Zambia vs Comoros.14 hours: Botswana vs Malawi.September 2315 hours: Zambia vs Botswana – ABB .15 hours: Malawi vs Comoros – ABB 2.Ends.

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