ZAMBIA 1-0 SOUTH AFRICA
In a world where so much can change so quickly, perhaps it is reassuring that there is one constant which remains. Come to think a bout it……The nations with almost identical national anthems tunes set up to fight for a place in the final of the Under 20 AFCON 2017.
The nation which had ripped Egypt’s dreams of making it to the last four , won a place in the final of the under 20 Afcon after a tense 1-0 victory over South Africa on Wednesday night. Edward Chilufya’s header after a free kick, seven minutes from the end of extra time, ensured Zambia ended its long wait for a place at the final of this tournament all this happened at the Heroes Stadium.
For all the doubters who said that no Southern African nation would or could ever win the junior Afcon, there was two teams that refused to listen and permutations found them playing in the semi final which guaranteed a Southern African team in the final, and for now it is Zambia who will have that chance.
Lazy stereotypes often abound when describing Southern African football. The words ‘organized’, ‘ruthless’ or ‘machine’ are bandled about along with that other cliché, ‘inefficience.’
To use those words to describe this Zambian side would not only do it a disservice — it would ignore the wonderful talent which passes through the veins of each and every player.
Zambia has long threatened to rule the African continent at this level but it has always alluded them. They have an opportunity now.
In 1985 and 1987 the Zambia team was eliminated in the first round , In 1991, it came close, bowing out at the semifinal stage and losing to Ghana 2-0 in the third and fourth . In 1995 and 1997, the country would then be eliminated in the group stage b.
Two years later in 1999, it was beaten to fourth place again losing to Cameroun 2-1 in losing semi finalist battle..
Zambia would then wait to finish fourth again in 2007 after losing to Gambia 3-1 . In 2015 zambia would only go until the group stage.
But hosting it in Zambia very few doubted zambia’s talent — but critics said it did not have the ability to get over the winning line. The sight of Emmanuel Banda, bruised with all that hard work, provided all the insight you needed into the psyche of this Zambian team. It can be ugly — but it can be beautiful too.
That beauty was there for all to see when Edward Chilufya rose to take Propser Chiluya’s cross from the free kick and it was a goal.
But in Enock Mwepu and Boyd Musonda, it has steel, in Fashion Sakala it has a warrior and in Patson Daka it has a man who can do everything. Few could begrudge Zambia this success — it has been the team of the 2017 junior AFCON.
Zambia has thrilled in this tournament. Its 6-1 victory over Mali was sublime; its 3-1 thrashing of Egypt was mesmerizing. But this win, secured through guts, fight and a moment of magic from one of its bright new stars showed that Zambia overcame the most difficult hurdle of all.
With the game deadlocked at 0-0 after 90 minutes, Chilufya provided the game’s defining moment with a touch of magic. The young lad took Propser’s pass on his displaying exquisite technique to have the ball past the South African goal keeper.
South Africa , rallied briefly but failed to find an equalizer and perhaps they started thinking they could have played attacking football much earlier. Even with the mercurial Singh in attack, South Africa were unable to take the game to penalties — not that it deserved to.
For all the talk of Singh, it was left to another wonderful talent and his head to steal the headlines with the decisive goal. South Africa failed to muster a single shot on target during the contest — and yet it will walk away ruing those two wonderful chances to have won the tie.
South Africa did scare Zambia with the resililnce and that shouldn’t be forgotten, this was the toughst test for Zambia and a lesson that a team should not play their competitor in a friendly before the tournament.
As Zambia regrouped the South African side constantly looked to use the flanks to exploit a lack of pace in their opponents’ defense.
Zambia , having scored ten in its previous games against Mali, Guinea and Egypt , began to wake from its slumber and only poor finishing from the strikers destroyed a very good game of football . South Africa remained a threat on the counter attack and should have done better than hook their efforts high and wide after being played through on goal several times.
With tired limbs and minds beginning to show, the pace of the contest slowed with both sets of players struggling to create any kind of chance.
Penalties seemed more of a reality. And then it happened. Propser with the free kick, picked out Chilufya, who took the ball on his head and the ball past South African goal keeper and into the far corner. It was a goal worthy of winning any World Cup — a wonderful goal which came with just 10 minutes of the contest remaining. South Africa tried to respond but while minds were willing, bodies were not. Singh was anonymous, his friends kicks sailing high into the stands with Zambia clearing balls to whom it may concern and how they wished they had power to rush the time.
Fans in the stands couldn’t wait for the final blow and the thought of the tear gas was already forgotten, eyes on the referee and the thought of watching their team in their final was running through their minds. It was clear to see.
A campaign which began with a slow start of Guinea ended with victory over the team which so many had tipped would be a tough game and yes it was a tough game. Perhaps South africa should have known.
Never bet against Zambia . they say OUR SOIL, OUR LAND OUR CUP.
