Zambia Under-20 head coach Perry Mutapa has set his sights beyond qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, declaring that the Young Copper Bullets want to go all the way and win the ongoing COSAFA Under-20 Championship.
Zambia strengthened their position in Group C with a convincing 3-0 victory over Comoros on Monday, recording their second consecutive win of the tournament. Tumelo Mununga, Abel Salim Nyirongo and Kayula Chinunda were all on target as the Young Copper Bullets produced another disciplined performance and maintained their perfect defensive record.
The result means Zambia have now collected maximum points from their opening two matches, scoring five goals without conceding. The strong start has placed Mutapa’s side in a favourable position as they pursue their immediate objective of securing qualification for the 2027 AFCON tournament in Ghana.
Mutapa, however, does not want qualification to become the end goal. The Zambia U20 coach believes the team’s ambitions must increase once that initial objective is achieved.
“The most important thing, the first one of course, is to qualify,” Mutapa said after the Comoros match.
“But when we qualify, the targets will change. We have to win it. We will be very happy when we qualify, but after qualifying the targets have to change and we would like to win the trophy.”
The coach’s comments underline the progression he expects from his young squad. Qualification for the continental tournament is the first target, but Mutapa wants his players to approach the COSAFA competition with the belief that they can ultimately lift the trophy.
The tournament is also serving another important purpose for the Young Copper Bullets, with Mutapa using the competition as an opportunity to expose a new generation of Zambian players to international football.
The current squad is significantly different from the team that represented Zambia at last year’s Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations, with only the goalkeeper remaining from that group. That transition has presented its own challenges, particularly for players experiencing international football for the first time.
“It is a tournament to introduce new faces to international football. It is not easy,” Mutapa said.
The coach pointed to Zambia’s opening match as evidence of the adjustment required by the new-look squad, explaining that some players initially struggled with the demands and coordination required at international level.
“Our first game, in the first half, we didn’t coordinate very well because most of the guys, it was their first test for international football.”
Despite those early challenges, the Young Copper Bullets have responded strongly. Two victories, five goals and two clean sheets have provided Mutapa with encouraging signs that the new generation is adapting quickly to the international environment.
The 3-0 victory over Comoros was particularly important in demonstrating that Zambia can combine attacking quality with defensive discipline. Mununga, Nyirongo and Chinunda provided the goals, while the backline once again ensured that the opposition failed to find a way through.
With the team continuing to grow together, Mutapa will now look to maintain the momentum and ensure Zambia finish the group stage in a strong position before turning their attention towards the bigger objective.
For the Young Copper Bullets, the mission is therefore clear: qualify first, then change the target and fight for the COSAFA Under-20 Championship title.
If Zambia can continue their current run, Mutapa’s new-look side could enter the decisive stages of the tournament with both confidence and momentum, while simultaneously laying the foundations for the next generation of players to make their mark on the international stage.
