Zambia U-20 coach Beston Chambeshi says
reaching the semis of the Total U-20 Africa Cup of Nations as hosts will be their initial target heading Into the biennial tourney next year.
The Young Chipolopolos will play host to the rest
of the continent from 26 February to 12 March in what will be their first staging of a continent
football event.
“All I can say is we are hosting this tournament,
and as a host team, we have to aim high. We
don’t have to put ourselves down but to set a
semi-final target,” Chambeshi told Cafonline.com, as his team began preparations last week.
Zambia will be in Group A and will battle Guinea, Mali and four-time champions Egypt.
But before then, the hosts have been handed a
great opportunity to prepare for the continental
gathering with participation in another junior
football tournament at the end of this year.
Zambia will head to South Africa in December to take part in the 2016 COSAFA U-20 Cup where they will play archrivals Zimbabwe and Malawi in Group B of the regional tournament that will run from December 6-17 in North-Western Province.
“Zimbabwe is a good side they have always given is a tough run but we can’t underrate Malawi either,” Chambeshi said.
“But the draw is good especially that we are
preparing for the CAF U-20 games.” Senegal, Sudan, Cameroon and South Africa make up Group B for the final tournament that will see the semi-finalists qualifying to represent Africa at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Korea Republic next year.
