By Scoop Reporter

THE Zambia Under 17 boys national football team has qualified to this year’s COSAFA U-17 Championship final and consequently qualified to the U-17 Confederation of African Football (CAF) tournament after beating South Africa 2-1.

South Africa broke the hearts of Zambia’s faithful fans that trooped to the UJ Stadium when they opened the scores within a minute of the first half when Simphiwe Mlondo split the defence before slotting in the opener.

However, Zambia leveled the scores through Abel Nyirongo who scored from the spot after being fouled inside the box by Teboho Mlangeni, with 22 minutes played, but five minutes later, the young Chipolopolo Boys were reduced to 10-men after Vincent Mutondo was red-carded after a stamp on Simphiwe Mlondo.

But drama was far from over as South Africa’s goalkeeper Lwandiso Radebe also followed suit after he was given marching orders deep inside the 12 minutes of added time when he blocked Nyirongo’s goal-bound bicycle kick outside the 18-yard box.

The second half set the tempo of the game as both teams went for the kill but it was Zambia who controlled much of the proceedings though South Africa equally consistently pilled pressure from the wings, causing nervy moments especially on the left due to Emmanuel Mbuti’s somewhat sloppy defending and being caught out-of-position most of the time.

But Zambia’s persistence paid off 20 minutes before the end of the match when substitute Robert Banda tapped in from close range after Nyirongo nutmegged South Africa’s substitute goalkeeper, Mosia Lehlohonolo.

The move was orchestrated by Mapalo “the silent criminal” Simute who sent a long searching ball to Nyirongo. Nyirongo in turn dragged his marker to the byline on the right wing, buccaneered goal-wards and slotted the ball between the legs of the oncoming Lehlohonolo for Banda to stub home in front of a yawning goal.

The game was paused with seven minutes remaining due to lightning and the boys were ushered back into the tunnel after the heavens opened up but there was little South Africa could do to salvage the situation at the re-start as Zambia held onto the lead.

Zambia will play Angola in the final on Friday where it will fancy its chances of defending the trophy. The win has further propelled the team to the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2025 finals.

Egypt, Morocco, Mali, defending champions Senegal, Burkina Faso and hosts Cote d’Ivoire have already qualified to the 12-team continental finals while four teams from the Central Zone (UNIFFAC) and Central-East Zone (CECAFA) whose qualifiers are yet to be played, will complete the list.