Zambia’s Junior Chipolopolo Boys have finished third at the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | COSAFA Qualifier after recording a convincing 3-0 victory over Namibia in their bronze-medal match at the ABB Stadium in Maputo, Mozambique.
Perry Mutapa’s side responded strongly following their semi-final defeat to South Africa, producing a dominant display against Namibia to bring their regional campaign to a positive conclusion. The Junior Chipolopolo controlled large portions of the contest and ultimately had their dominance reflected on the scoreboard.
Zambia made their pressure count in the first half when defender Gift Mumbi broke the deadlock. The goal gave the Junior Chipolopolo a deserved advantage heading into the interval and provided Mutapa’s side with a platform to build on after the disappointment of missing out on a place in the final.
The Junior Chipolopolo continued in the same vein after the restart, maintaining control and putting Namibia under sustained pressure. Their persistence was rewarded when forward Sipho Muntanga found the back of the net to extend Zambia’s advantage.
Muntanga was not finished, however, as the forward struck again to complete his brace and put the result beyond doubt. His two goals in the second half capped a strong attacking performance from Zambia and ensured the team finished the tournament with a comprehensive victory.
The 3-0 result secured the bronze medal for Zambia and allowed the Junior Chipolopolo to end their campaign with a win. After reaching the semi-finals, Mutapa’s side ultimately finished third in the regional competition.
The result also provided a positive response to the semi-final setback against South Africa, with Zambia showing character to regroup and deliver a convincing performance in the battle for third place.
While Zambia missed out on the final, the campaign gave the Junior Chipolopolo valuable competitive experience at regional level under Mutapa, with the team ending their tournament on a high.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Amajita successfully defended their COSAFA Under-20 title after defeating hosts Mozambique 2-1 in an entertaining final at the ABB Stadium.
The victory confirmed South Africa as regional champions for a second consecutive edition, completing another successful tournament for the defending champions.
South Africa’s journey to the final also earned them qualification to the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana. Hosts Mozambique joined them after reaching the final, with the two finalists securing the region’s qualification places for the continental tournament.
For Zambia, attention now turns to building on the experience gained from the COSAFA campaign, while the 3-0 victory over Namibia provides a strong winning finish for the Junior Chipolopolo as they close their 2026 regional campaign with the bronze medal.
