Banda back to boost Zambia at Region 5 Games Maseru 2020
Zambia have included the top scorer at last year’s COSAFA Men’s Under-17 Championship, Joseph Banda, in their provisional squad for the Boys football competition at the Region 5 Games Maseru 2020 from November 30-December 9.
The winger is still only 15, despite already having been called up to the senior men’s national side, and will be the dangerman in coach George Chilufya’s squad.
Also returning is goalkeeper Eric Makungu, who won the Golden Glove at the COSAFA event in 2020, as Chilufya has kept faith with seven players from that squad.
Zambia, who were runners up 12 months ago, have been drawn in the three-team Group C at the Region 5 games and open their campaign against Malawi on Dec. 1.
They will then take on Seychelles three days later, with the top team in each pool advancing to the next stage along with the best-placed runner-up.
Zambia have been regular participants in the COSAFA Men’s Under-17 Championships down the years, and last won the title in Malawi in 2019.
They picked up a bronze medal in their first appearance in 1994, defeating Namibia (5-0) and Malawi (3-0) in the pool stages to go with draws against South Africa (1-1) and Eswatini (0-0).
They came unstuck in the semifinals though after a 2-1 loss to Mozambique, but rallied to beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in the third-place play-off.
They played just a single pool game in 2001, a 3-0 victory over Lesotho, before losing 5-4 to Malawi in the semifinals. Again, they took home the bronze with a 2-0 victory over Eswatini.
They did not play in 2002 but returned in 2007 and once more had to settle for bronze. A 1-1 draw with Malawi was followed by an 8-0 success over Botswana to see them top their pool.
Zimbabwe were their semi-final opponents and after a 1-1 draw, it was The Baby Warriors who triumphed 5-4 on penalties. Zambia beat Malawi 1-0 in the third-place play-off. The team were disqualified from the 2016 event for fielding two over-age players but returned a year later to lift their maiden crown.
They advanced into the knockout stages with wins over Madagascar (7-1) and South Africa (3-2), and despite a 1-0 loss to Mozambique.
After a 2-0 semifinal win, Zambia completed a comprehensive 3-0 victory over hosts Mauritius in the final to take gold.
They could not defend that title in 2018 though as the team surprisingly exited in the first round. A 0-0 draw with Mozambique was followed by a 1-0 win over Lesotho, but their fate was sealed by a 2-1 loss to South Africa.
They romped to the trophy in 2019, recording wins over Eswatini (6-0), South Africa (7-0) and Malawi (3-2) in the pool stages, followed by a 2-0 victory over Angola in the semifinals, and a win by the same scoreline in the final against Mozambique.
They almost had a repeat in 2020 in a competition ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic and player eligibility issues that reduced it to four teams but lost on penalties in the final to South Africa after a 1-1 draw.
They had claimed top spot in the pool stage with wins over Angola (2-1), Malawi (6-2) and South Africa (1-0).
Zambia have only appeared at the African Under-17 Championships once before, making their debut in 2015, but bowing out in the first round.
Their final showing in 2020 meant they qualified for the 2021 continental finals, but those were cancelled due to COVID-19.
Zambia provisional squad:
Goalkeepers: Eric Musonda Makungu, Martin Chulu (Athletico FC)
Defenders: Lyson Banda (Shamuel FC), Mathews Banda (BUSA), Ricky Chanda (City of Lusaka), Emmanuel Kateka (Over Stars FC), Douglas Tembo (Blaze FC), Anthony Mukuka (Red Arrows), Sekanji Siame (Kafue Celtic), Emmanuel Mutale (Ndola Lime FC), Francis Mwale (Kings Academy), Aaron Phiri (Athletico FC),
Midfielders: Perkings Mumba (Livingstone Pirates), Vincent Sakala (Blaze FC), Misheck Mbaso (Shamuel FC), Ben Sebele (Red Arrows), Justine Chishala (Free Stars FC), Bwalya Maimbi (MC Academy FC), Fredrick Ngululu (Athletico FC), Parkie Nkhoma (Shamuel FC), Joseph Sabobo Banda (Athletico FC), Frank Chileshe (Kafue Celtic), Gift Msiska (Young Nkana), Tryson Banda (Athletico FC), Samson Malaya (Blaze FC), Gift Siame (Athletico FC)
Strikers: Patrick Simwinga (Mphande FC), Thomas Mwambazi (Aquila Stars FC), Marcel Zimba (Athletico FC), Kelvin Phiri (Janza Academy), Job Mwenge (Kings Academy), James Kalima (Mpanza FC), David Kasongo (Young Power Dynamos FC), John Tembo (Galaxy FC), Dephinist Mwansa (Ndola Academy)
