Zambia Vs South Africa
Hereos Stadium
18:00hrs
The die is cast, the battle of Southern Africa has been reignited once again. Its Amajita as the U23 and U20 national teams of South Africa are fondly nicknamed against the Young Chipololopo of Zambia. Interestingly the U17 side of South Africa doesnt go by that nickname. They are called Amajimbos.
The two nemesis will most likely never agree on exactly who the powerhouse of Southern Africa football is and this could escalate to the fans and even bookmakers.And doesn’t matter at what level Zambia and South Africa compete football wise.
What is true about this encounter between with these two sides is that more often than not the games have been very competitive. Its a story of no team wanting to lose to the other. That is what is on offer for the fans and certainly for the two qualifiers to the May/June 2017 South Korea Under20 World Cup finals
A victory in Wednesday’s Afcon Under 20 semi final for either one of the two will be a perfect atonement to claim bragging rights, and for the time being show which country has better plans for the future.
I can bring to fore the recent encounters for the Zambian and South African junior to four meetings before this encounter slated for 8th March 2017. They have an identical record of two wins apiece. The most recent meeting being a friendly played at Nkoloma gives Zambia a slight edge. Its without a doubt its one of football’s great rivalries returning this Wednesday as Zambia engage South Africa in a crucial Afcon under 20 semi final at the Heroes Stadium.
The two sides’ first official meeting at this level took place on December 6th, 2011, in South Africa in a match that saw Zambia record a comprehensive 5-1 win. South Africa would then beat Zambia on the 7th of December 2013 in an Under 20 cosafa cup before another humiliating defeat for Zambia in the group stages of this tournament on the 15th March 2015 when Zambia lost 5-2. Kabelo Seriba scored an own goal to add to Zambias consolation of two goals in that encounter with Charles Zulu scoring the second. A hat trick hero for South Africa in that encounter was in the name of Tryoane Sundowns and Dumisani Zuma also scoring a brace.
The latest and fourth was on 16th December 2016 in the Cosafa Cup final were Zambia beat Amajita 2-1 with Kabelo Seriba this time scoring in the right place for South Africa while Kenneth Kalunga and Boyd Musonda scored for a goal apiece for Zambia.
The head-to-head record of these two sides just shows how fiercely contested the Superclassico of Southern Africa has been. No drawn matches have been recorded with Zambia scoring 11goals and South Africa scoring 8.
But one record can’t be disputed, the two teams have clashed once at this level of the championships, and that win belongs to South Africa 5-2 hence a revenge mission will remotely on the conscious in the Zambians way of seeing things. That was at group stages but this one is even more bigger. Its in search of a place in the final. And potentially going the African junior trophy that has eluded both sides in the past.
This Wednesday at the Heroes Stadium, the record will be updated, adding extra spice to what is surely to be another intriguing chapter in this historic rivalry. In this tournament South Africa has been poor in defence and that will be a worry as they face up Zambia who has been excellent with posting goals, scoring 10 in three games and just allowing two compared to the 9 goals scored by South Africa and conceeding 6.
Pound for pound Zambia look a much more stronger team but South Africa fight as a team and that is the threat that they will pose to Zambia who has been wasteful in front of goal. Zambia would have scored more goals than the 10 so far if they were clinical in front of goal. There is no room for error as the loser will end up playing third and fourth play offs, raising the curtain for the big one on Sunday .
I think Zambia will get this one but Beston Chambeshi boy’s need to start strong from the first whistle if this team has to prevail. Zambia has been slow in gaining momentum on the last three victories . This is a different ball game and a final on its on,
Allowing South Africa to score first would be suicidal for Zambia and Amajita have the capacity to silence the expected bumper boisterous Zambia faithfuls that will pack the Heroes Stadium and send Zambia to third and fourth.
My Verdict: Zambia 2-1 South Africa
