Zambia Under-20 head coach Perry Mutapa says the Junior Chipolopolo Boys will target a third consecutive victory when they face Botswana in their final Group C match at the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations/COSAFA Qualifier in Maputo, Mozambique.
Zambia have made an impressive start to the tournament, opening their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Malawi before following it up with a convincing 3-0 win against Comoros at ABB 2 Stadium on Monday. The two victories have placed Zambia at the top of Group C with six points, three clear of Malawi.
Mutapa wants his players to maintain that momentum and complete the group stage with a perfect record, while also ensuring that they remain focused and avoid complacency against a Botswana side still searching for its first win and first goal of the tournament.
“Going into the game against Botswana, we expect to get three out of three, so any game is not an easy game. So, we don’t have to be big-headed or over-confident,” Mutapa said.
“Our aim is to finish on top and obviously do well. Even defensively, we don’t have to concede. We want to score more goals and not to concede.”
Despite Botswana’s difficult start, Mutapa expects another competitive encounter. Botswana opened their campaign with a draw against Comoros before suffering a defeat to Malawi, but the Zambia coach believes the results do not tell the entire story of their performances.
“Botswana played a good game against Comoros. As we were analysing Comoros’ game, it was a tight game, the first game they played, because we had to analyse Comoros and Botswana. They drew, but it was a good game,” he said.
“Yesterday they lost to Malawi, but it is a good team, so we just have to focus on our strengths and work on our weaknesses.”
Zambia captain Tumelo Mununga, who was named Player of the Match after scoring in the victory over Comoros, echoed Mutapa’s determination to maintain the team’s winning run.
“The game against Botswana, as a team, our expectation is to win, but of course it won’t be easy because Botswana hasn’t won any match,” Mununga said.
“They will come at us to seek victory, but us, we are focused on winning the match.”
History also favours Zambia heading into the encounter. The Junior Chipolopolo have won all three of their previous COSAFA Under-20 Championship meetings with Botswana, recording a 5-0 victory in 2019 before narrow 1-0 wins in 2022 and 2025.
Another victory would take Zambia to nine points from three matches and give them a perfect group-stage record. More importantly, it would strengthen their push for both the COSAFA title and qualification for the 2027 CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.
A semi-final place would set up a meeting with the winners of Group B. South Africa currently lead that group with six points after victories over Lesotho and Angola, setting up the possibility of another demanding knockout-stage assignment for Zambia.
The stakes extend beyond the COSAFA title, with the two finalists in the qualifying tournament earning places at the 2027 CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
For Mutapa and his young side, however, the immediate focus remains Botswana. Zambia have already laid down a strong marker with six points, five goals scored and no goals conceded from their opening two matches. They now have the opportunity to finish the group stage with a perfect record and carry that momentum into the decisive stages of the competition.
