MATCH FACTS: Zambia in must-win clash against South Africa in Group A

COSAFA rivals South Africa and Zambia meet for the fourth time at the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) when they clash in a final Group A fixture on Friday (kick-off 18:00 local time / 15:00 GMT).

South Africa need just a point to qualify for the knockout stages, while Zambia must win.

In their previous three encounters at the tournament finals, South Africa won twice and Zambia once. Their first meeting came in the group stage, where South Africa won 2-1 and progressed alongside Côte d’Ivoire, while Zambia were eliminated.

In 2015, both teams were already eliminated before their final group game. South Africa triumphed in a 5-2 thriller, with Tyroane Sandows scoring a hat trick and Dumsani Zuma netting a brace. Zambia scored via a Kabelo Seriba own goal and a 90th-minute strike by Charles Zulu.

The most recent clash came in the 2017 semi-finals. Hosts Zambia won 1-0, with Edward Chilufya scoring in the 109th minute to send his side to the final, where they went on to claim the title.

In total, the three tournament encounters have produced 11 goals—7 for South Africa and 4 for Zambia. Notably, in both previous instances where the teams shared a group (1997 and 2015), they did not both advance.

More recently, South Africa defeated Zambia 2-0 in the 2024 COSAFA U-20 final during qualifying for this tournament. Shandre Campbell and Lee Ahshene were the scorers.

SOUTH AFRICA FACTS

·       After losing to hosts Egypt, South Africa beat Tanzania (1-0) and Sierra Leone (4-1). They will qualify with a win or draw.

·       South Africa have previously reached the knockout stages in 1997, 2009, 2017, and 2019.

·       The 4-1 win over Sierra Leone was their joint-biggest at the finals, equalling the 5-2 win over Zambia in 2015.

·       It was the first time they scored more than one goal in a game since their 3-1 win over Sudan in 2017.

·       This marks just the third time they’ve won back-to-back group games (also 1997 and 2009).

·       They’ve never won three games in open play at a single edition.

·       Should they progress, it would be the second time (after 1997) that they advanced after losing their opening game.

·       South Africa’s four goals against Sierra Leone matched their total from the previous eight games.

·       Thabang Mahlangu became the first South African substitute to score a brace in a single game at the finals.

·       Neo Rapoo and Jody Ahshene each scored and assisted in the same match – a first for South Africa at this tournament.

·       Shakeel April has contributed in two games: scoring against Tanzania and assisting against Sierra Leone.

ZAMBIA FACTS

·       Zambia are unbeaten after 0-0 draws with Sierra Leone and Egypt, followed by a 1-0 win over Tanzania.

·       The Tanzania win ended a five-game winless run at the finals (D3, L2).

·       It was their first win abroad at the tournament since beating Egypt 3-0 in 2007.

·       Before that, they had failed to win in 10 away games (L7, D3).

·       Zambia are the only team in Group A yet to concede.

·       They’ve kept three clean sheets for the first time in group play.

·       Goalkeeper Leevison Banda leads the tournament with three clean sheets.

·       Their only goal came via a stoppage-time penalty by Joseph Sabobo against Tanzania. They’ve yet to score from open play.

·       Their shot conversion rate is just 3.23%, the second-lowest in the tournament (only Tanzania have a worse rate).

·       A win would send Zambia to the knockouts for the fifth time (previously in 1991, 1999, 2007, 2017).

·       In 1991, also hosted by Egypt, they reached the semi-finals and finished fourth.

·       Elimination would mark back-to-back group-stage exits (also in 2023), and their fifth overall (1995, 1997, 2015, 2023).