Zambia coach Tennant Chilumba admits Amajimbo South Africa will be their biggest test in the defending champions’ bid to reach the 2018 COSAFA U17 Cup semifinals.

Junior Chipolopolo and Amajimbo clash in a Group B decider on July 24 for a place in the July 27 semi-finals where the winner awaits the best second-placed side at the on-going tournament in Mauritius.

Record two-time champions Amajimbo lead Group B on goal difference with 4 points following their 4-1 demolition of Mozambique on July 22.

Zambia also collected their first win at the tournament on the same day when they scraped past Lesotho 1-0 at the death via an 89th minute Benson Simwanda goal.

Both Zambia and South Africa made modest starts to their Group B campaign after posting 0-0 results against Mozambique and Lesotho respectively.

“It is always tricky when we play South Africa but we are ready for them and we watched them play. I think it will be a good game and I think the better team will carry the day- and I think it will be Zambia,” Chilumba said.

“I can also say that we have the same philosophy, South Africa play a passing game with good technique but we too will be working on our technique. I think it will be a very tricky and tactical game.”

The match will be a repeat of their 2017 group stage meeting in the same competition, also held in Mauritius, that Zambia won 3-2 en route to their debut COSAFA U17 title win.

However, that was Zambia’s debut win over Amajimbo from six previous meetings and the latter leads the with two wins and three draws in both competitive and friendly dates.

By Kalumiana Kalumiana