Late Daka strike sees Zambia advance and secure FIFA U-17 World Cup place

A crucial strike by Billy Daka in the closing stages saw Zambia advance to the quarterfinals of the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations at the expense of Uganda – an accomplishment that is also accompanied with a ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The hard-fought victory sees Zambia finish second in Group A behind group leaders, Morocco as the two nations that advance to the quarterfinals of the competition and FIFA U-17 World Cup.

As expected, the encounter was highly tactical with both sides attacking with caution with a lot at stake.

Zambia were the first to draw blood in the 20^th minute after a lapse of concentration by the Ugandan defense saw Kelvin Chipelu open the scoring for the Southern African nation.

The lead saw Zambia head into the break in a slightly comfortable position with victory in sight.

Uganda came out firing in the second half and levelled matters just minutes into the second stanza thanks to a 49^th minute strike by Elvis Torach who made it 1-1.

With the two sides headed for a highly tactical stalemate, it was the Zambians who found the all-important goal that would send them to the knockout stages, as Billy Daka stepped up in the 86^th minute to send the Zambians home and dry.