AFCON U17: Zambia Has Nothing To Fear Against Nigeria, Others

AFCON U17: Zambia Has Nothing To Fear Against Nigeria, Others

Alfred Kadiri

Zambia Under-17 men’s national team coach Ian Bakala says his team has nothing to fear after being drawn against arch-rivals South Africa, Nigeria and Morocco at the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be held in Algeria, BSNSports.com.ng has gathered.

The COSAFA champions will renew their rivalry against South Africa months after completing a double over their neighbours at the Region V Games in Lilongwe that staged the Zonal qualifiers for the AFCON.

They will also need to shrug off competition from Nigeria and North Africans Morocco in group B at the AFCON which will take place from April 29 to May 19 and serves as a qualifier for the U17 FIFA World Cup in Peru.

“The draws are fair and looking at the group, only South Africa knows us well and even as we know (them), but the group is fair and we have confidence in our team and we are looking forward to sharpening up more,” Bakala said after the draws were held at the Cercle National de l'Armée in Algiers.

“We still need some replacements in the team but going to the tournament, we are going to prepare the team very well, we are going to look for two or three players that can be included in the team."

Group B, touted to be the ‘group of death’ is something that Bakala is not worried about.

"I am not under pressure because it will be a different ball game. Those games (AFCON qualifiers) are gone and we are going to prepare the team to challenge for the trophy and qualify for the World Cup."

The semi-finalists in the tournament in Algeria will automatically book their spot in the global showpiece to be held in Peru.