Zambia claim double gold 

Zambia successfully defended the title they won in Malawi in 2022 by defeating Angola 2-1 to clinch the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations | COSAFA Qualifier at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto Stadium on Friday. 

Both teams had already booked their places in the continental finals set for Cote d’Ivoire next year, but the Zambian took home the bragging rights after making it a ’one-two’ following earlier success in the 2024 Cosafa Under-17 Girls’ Championship final when they beat Lesotho 15-0. 

In the Boys’ decider, Zambia were the better side in the first half with Mapalo Simute getting behind Angola’s back four with and without the ball on the left. On the right flank, Robert Banda always had space to attack and in the seventh minute he delivered a low cross and Abel Nyirongo finished from inside the sox-yard area to put Zambia ahead. 

Offensively, Angola did not do much in the final third because they were numerically inferior to Zambia as most players remained in the half to deny the latter spaces that they could exploit during counterattacks as the defenders mostly played long vertical and diagonal passes into the final third. 

Against the run of play, Omar Oliveira took a free kick from inside the penalty arc that deflected from a defender to level matters for Angola in the 43rd minute.
In the second half, Zambia were still the dominant side and penetrated mostly in the outside channels. 

In the 70th minute, Zambia were awarded a penalty after central defender Josemar Vicente brought down Emmanuel Mbuti. However, Abel Nyirongo’s shot from the spot was saved by Gelson Dala to ensure his team was still in contention for the title. 

But Zambia would not be denied and Jimmy Banda assisted Nyirongo for a second goal as he completed his brace. 

The speedy Simite claimed the Player of the Tournament accolade, while Nyirango clinched the Golden Boot for his seven goals. For his exploits between the goalposts, Gelson Dala of Angola claimed the Golden Glove, while Angola were also awarded the Fair Play prize. 

Earlier, Zambia were crowned the 2024 Cosafa Under-17 Girls Championship winners after humbling debutants Lesotho 15-0 in a one sided final in Soweto. 

Zambia become the first two-time winners of the competition, repeating their 2021 success. Uganda (2019), Tanzania (2020) and South Africa (2022) are the other winners. The Copper Princesses were ruthless in front of goal, scoring six goals in the first half. Masela Sekeseke opened the scoring in the opening five minutes before assisting Hellen Banda for her side’s second goal inside 10 minutes. 

Captain Mercy Chipasula joined the party in the seventh minute, which was followed by a stunner soon after and a penalty conversion to complete a hat-trick. 

Lesotho had a slim chance getting in the opposition’s half with Ntsamaeng Tholo’s attempt which was blocked by Loveness Chingwela five minutes to the break. 

Three minutes from that Chipasula set-up Lillian Mwenda for Zambia’s sixth goal.
It took 10 minutes for the girls from Lusaka to add more goals in the second half with Sekeseke assisting Chipasula’s fourth goal. The latter also netted her fifth of the game two minutes later to make it 8-0 at the hour mark. She would end the game with seven goals. The skipper soon after returned the favour to Sekeseke for the latter’s second goal of the match while on her way completing her hat-trick soon after. 

It was a one way traffic as Chipasula added two goals while assisting Banda for her second of the game and Zambia’s 13th, before they added two more 

The Under-17 girls win completes a hat-trick of trophies for the Zambian women’s sides this year following that of the Under-20 girls and the senior women’s teams this year. 

Chipasula deservedly won both the Player of the Tournament and Golden Boot for her 13 goals. Compatriot Loveness Chingwele won the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper and Lesotho took home the Fair Play award. – Cosafa.com