Zambia will start their hunt for their second AFCON U20 title tonight when they take on Benin at the Alexandria Stadium in one of the two matches slated for Tuesday at the ongoing U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.The Young Chipolopolo of Zambia will be one of the returning teams to the competition having failed to qualify for the last two editions in Niger and Mauritania following their 2017 triumph at home, this time with their eyes set on qualifying for the FIFA U20 World CupThe West Africans return to the tournament after a ten-year absence and will be hoping to replicate their 2005 performance when they beat Morocco on penalties to secure bronze on home soil, or even better.AFCON U-20: Congo overpower South Sudan in late Group B actionJust like their opponents tonight, Benin will be targeting a ticket to Indonesia, and a strong start in their opening match will come in handy.”Our goal is to finish in the last four of the tournament. We want to qualify for the World Cup. It would be a moral satisfaction for its young people who must show themselves to the world. We are working hard for that. We want to go step by step to achieve our goals,” the Cheetahs coach Mattias Deguenon said during a pre-match interview according to CAFonline.His counterpart, Chisi Mbewe, has called on the COSAFA champions to be disciplined and tactical, not only in tonight’s match but in the competition in general to attain their objective.”Zambia has talents, they need to be refined. It is a pleasure to be in Egypt, the group deserves this qualification. We need more tactics, rigor, discipline and defensive withdrawal. There are no other secrets, if we want to reach our objective,” Zambia’s coach Mbewe said ahead of the match that kicks off at 8PM EAT. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7041648##Before the late kick-off, two-time third-place finishers Gambia takes on Tunisia at the same venue starting at 5 PM EAT.The match will be a repeat of the 2021 third-place playoffs where Gambia secured a 4-2 shootout victory over the Young Carthage Eagles in Nouakchott, Mauritania, to claim their second bronze medal in the tournament.Ahead of the match, Coach Abdoulie Bojang wants to replicate a similar performance against Tunisia, with their major focus being a win on their opening match.“I have a duty to maintain the standards of the team. The focus is on Tunisia, to put up a respectable performance and win,” Bojang said.FKF calls for players’ unwavering commitment in the battle against match-fixingHis Tunisian counterpart Adel Sellimi has called on his players to be efficient but at the same time enjoy themselves.”I’ve asked the players to free themselves, to have fun on the pitch but to be efficient, disciplined and enduring. We are going to a young generation who have real ambitions. It is an important competition to prepare the future of our football. We must start well, starting the competition in the right way. We will face a great Gambian team. We have the ultimate determination to raise our level to win,” Sellimi said.
