MATCH FACTS: Winless Tanzania, Zambia clash in Group A at the TotalEnergies CAF U20 AFCON on Tuesday

Zambia and Tanzania will meet for the first time at the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations when they clash in Group A at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia on Tuesday (kick-off 18:00 local time / 15:00 GMT).

Tanzania are winless from their opening two matches, while Zambia have been involved in a pair of 0-0 draws. 

Zambia has played three previous matches against East African teams, with a record of: Played 3, Won 1, Drawn 1, Lost 1.

In 1985, Zambia faced Ethiopia in the first round. They drew the first leg 2-2 away but lost the second leg 3-1 at home. In the 1991 group stage (also hosted in Egypt), Zambia met Ethiopia again and won 3-2 in Ismailia, advancing to the semi-finals alongside group winners Ghana.

These three matches against East African teams produced a total of 13 goals, with Zambia scoring 6 and conceding 7.

This match marks Tanzania’s first-ever encounter with a Southern African opponent in the tournament’s history.

ZAMBIA FACTS

·       Zambia have drawn their first two games 0-0, against Sierra Leone and Egypt.

·       This is the first time Zambia have opened a tournament with two consecutive goalless draws.

·       It is also the first time Zambia have failed to score in their first two matches at the finals.

·       This is the second consecutive tournament where Zambia have failed to win either of their opening two matches. In 2023, they drew 1-1 with Benin and lost 2-0 to Gambia.

·       Zambia are winless in their last five games at the finals (Drawn 3, Lost 2).

·       Their last win at the finals came in the 2017 final against Senegal.

·       Zambia have never gone three consecutive games at the finals without scoring.

·       Their record in the third group game at the finals: Played 8, Won 2, Drawn 2, Lost 4.

·       In their opening match against Sierra Leone, Zambia had four shots on target; they failed to register a shot on target in their second game against Egypt.

·       The match against Egypt marked the first time in their last three tournament appearances that Zambia failed to register a shot on target.

·       Zambia have used 18 players across their first two games, with 7 players starting both matches.

·       Goalkeeper Levison Banda has kept two clean sheets in the tournament so far.

TANZANIA FACTS

·       Tanzania have lost both of their opening games 1-0, to South Africa and Sierra Leone – the first time they’ve opened a tournament with back-to-back losses.

·       They have failed to score in consecutive matches for the first time at the finals.

·       In five total matches at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Tanzania are still seeking their first win (Drawn 1, Lost 4).

·       They have failed to score in four of those five matches, with their only goal coming in a 1-1 draw against Gambia in the 2021 group stage.

·       Tanzania have played a third group match once before, losing 3-0 to Morocco in 2021.

·       Against Sierra Leone, Tanzania completed 298 accurate passes; in their first game against South Africa, they completed 270.

·       Across their two matches so far, Tanzania have had a combined total of 7 shots on target but have yet to score.