Zambia coach Beston Chambeshi looks ahead to U-20 World Cup quarter-final
Reflects on his own last-eight game from 1988 Olympics in Korea Republic
African champions to face Italy in Suwon
While Zambia currently navigates parts unknown through the waters of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, preparing for their first ever quarter-final at this level, there is at least one among their ranks who finds the environment more than a little familiar. Fortunately for the Young Chipolopolo, it is the man steering the ship.
Almost 30 years ago, coach Beston Chambeshi was gearing up for a last-eight clash of his own as Zambia fought at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Football Tournament. Now back again in the Korea Republic he admits has “changed a lot”, he still has fond memories of his first trip east.
“It was marvellous. Playing teams like Germany, who had great players like [Jurgen] Klinsmann, as well as facing the likes of Iraq and Italy,” he recalled in conversation with FIFA.com. “It wasn’t easy but, at that time, we had a strong team. We played as a united group, just as the boys are doing now.”
With the likes of national icons Kalusha Bwalya and Charles Musonda joining him – as well as six players who tragically lost their lives in the 1993 air crash in Gabon – the Copper Bullets blitzed through their group before being sent home by a Klinsmann-inspired Germany.
Attacking spirit
Top scorer in Zambia that year and national champions with Nkana FC, Chambeshi was given the nickname ‘Quicksilver’ by legendary Zambian commentator Dennis Liwewe. “I wasn’t all that fast, but I was a talented player,” the smiling Chambeshi said. “That name always pushed me to play good soccer.”
And another famous quote from Liwewe, who was the voice of Zambian football for more than 40 years, describing their triumphant CAF Africa Cup of Nations side of 2012 fits neatly with this latest incarnation. “We showed the spirit of attack, attack, attack,” he told the BBC following that victory. “We shall never surrender.”
Epic fightbacks against Iran and Germany, both rollercoaster games, reflected just that as they booked their quarter-final with Italy in Suwon. “It’s a Zambian news story to see a team get this far,” Chambeshi said. “Football is about making history, it is about leaving your name. [But] there is no pressure now, they’re just enjoying their game.
“In football, it’s only once in a while when you find yourself at this stage. They’re young boys, so to have a ‘father’ like me telling them the truth about soccer, how to enjoy soccer and that things are in their own hands [helps].”
Italy and beyond
Faced with an organised Azzurrini, fresh from eliminating France, Chambeshi knows goals cannot be conceded cheaply, but early resilience against Germany – albeit not lasting the full 90 minutes – has buoyed him.
And, ultimately, he feels this record-breaking run is nothing compared to what the future can bring should they present a pathway for this side to step into the shoes of the senior Chipolopolo. “This is football. Records are made and records are broken. This is just a stepping stone and in a few years we can do even better for Zambia and Africa – [the players] have that zeal.”
Harambee Stars local technician Stanley Okumbi expects foreign-based players in camp starting tomorrow, Thursday 1st of June 2017 as preparations intensify ahead of 2019 Africa Cup of Nations first leg cracker against Sierra Leone less than a fortnight.
Skipper and Tottenham Hotspur anchorman Victor Wanyama top the list of 13 foreign players, who are expected for the assignment alongside China-based striker Michael Olunga.
Okumbi’s first task in the qualifiers will be away to Sierra Leone on June 10th and others clustered in Group F are Ethiopia’s Walya Antelopes, and group favourite on paper Ghana Black Stars.
Currently, locally based players called up a few weeks ago by the coach are in camp in Machakos.
The Kenyans will arrive in Freetown on the 8th June 2017 with a 31-man delegation and they will depart next day the 11th June 2017.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has designated Nigeria quartet to officiate the encounter in Freetown.
Referee, Ferdinand Udoh Aniete, will be at the centre to be assisted by Tejiri Digbori and Abdulmajeed Olaide as Assistant 1 & 2 respectively.
Born in 1987, Aniete joined the Kwara State Referee Association in 1999 and became a grade one referee in 2005 before he acquired his world football governing body, FIFA-badge in 2013.
Udoh Aniete was the best referee of the 33 referees drawn from all over Africa that took part in the CAF Young Talent Referees Course held in Cairo, Egypt in 2013.
In 2015, he officiated the final match of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Super 4 Pre-season Invitational tournament and was recently in charge of Mali vs. Tanzania match at the CAF U-17 AFCON.
Benjamin Ekabatiem Ekabatiem is the fourth official whiles Karim Alem from Morocco will serve as the match commissioner.
Harambee Stars coach Stanley Okumbi’s selected 13 foreign-based players below.
Abud Omar (Slava Sofia, Bulgaria), Agay Anthony Akumu (Zesco, Zambia), Ayub Masika Timbe (Beijing Renhe, China), David Ochieng (New York Cosmos, USA), Erick Ouma (Kolkheti Poti, Georgia), Erick Johanna (Vasalunds IF, Sweden), Jackson Jesse Were (Zesco, Zambia), Johanna Omollo (Royal Antwerp, Belgium), Joseph Okumu (Free State Stars, South Africa), Odhiambo David Owino (Zesco, Zambia), Ogada Michael Olunga (Guizhou Zhicheng, China), Onyango Brian Mandela (Maritzburg, South Africa), Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspurs, England)
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Kenya June 4th friendly with Palancas Negras of Angola to be played in Machakos has been called off.
Federation (FKF) have confirmed that Angola called off their friendly match against Harambee Stars citing fixtures congestion.
The move leaves the FKF in search of a makeup friendly before their June 10 African Cup of Nations qualifier against away to Sierra Leone in Freetown.
FKF public relations and communication manager, Barry Otieno said: “Indeed, Angola have pulled out of the friendly due to the on-going preparations for the Africa Cup qualifiers. They travelled to Portugal and it has proved hard for them to honour the friendly. The federation will try to get a cover up but if our efforts will not be successful, we will prepare for the Sierra Leone game away,” Otieno was quoted as saying.
The friendly would have seen the Kenyan side use it as a final test before they embark on the qualifiers.
Angola withdrew from the friendly to focus on the Africa Cup of Nations duel against Burkina Faso set for June 9 away in Ouagadougou.
Nevertheless, Kenya have recently played Uganda to a 1-1 draw (March 23), defeated DRC 2-1 (March 26) and held Malawi to a goalless in April as part of their preparations for the upcoming qualifiers.
Meanwhile, the FKF have also confirmed that they will arrive in Freetown on the 8th June 2017 with a 31-man delegation for the opener of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Freetown June 10th and they will depart on the 11th June 2017.
According to the Sierra Leone Football Association, (SLFA) the FKF foreman, however, will arrive on the 5th June to do the necessary groundwork awaiting the landing of the full delegation.
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History was made yet on Sunday at the Total U-17 African Cup of Nations Gabon 2017 when Mali became the first country to retain the title following a 1-0 win against the Black Starlets of Ghana.
In the final played at the Stade d’Angondjé otherwise known as Stade de l’Amitie, Seme Camara scored the only goal from the spot kick in a hotly contested match.
Sunday’s victory was the first time a defending champion successfully secured the title and the Aiglonnets joined the rank of countries like Nigeria, Ghana and the Gambia that have won the title twice since the championship was launched in 1995.
As widely predicted by the coaches, this match has all the trappings of a cup final and it started in an offensive manner in front of an enthusiastic crowd.But it was Mali that constantly troubled Ghana for much of the early minutes of play with the striking pair of Seme Camara and Hadji Drame tormenting the Ghanaian defence.
In an attacking raid, Ghana conceded the penalty and Mamadou Samake was twice lucky as he followed up the rebound to give Mali the lead in the 20th minute.
Some ten minutes after, the Black Starlets conceded yet another foul in the box but goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim punched the ball away to keep the Black Starlets in the game.
Ghana came strongly towards the first half and were unlucky to get an equaliser after Eric Ayiah with only the goalkeeper to beat, tamely shot on the body of Youssouf Koita and the lurking Malian defender cleared away to keep the score line at 1-0.
Meanwhile, Mali did not remove their legs from the pedal and could have added the second goal barely five minutes after the restart but Seme Camara in front of an empty post ballooned the ball over the bar.
Thereafter, the game see-sawed but Mali have the duo of captain Mohammed Camara and Mamadi Fofana to thank as they stoutly defended their area down to the very end.
Mali as champions will lead the continent’s quartet including Ghana, Guinea and Niger to the forthcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup to be hosted in India in October.
Total Man of the Match: Mohammed Camara( captain, Mali). Cafonline.com
Senegal are through to the second round of the Under-20 World Cup in South Korea after a goalless draw with Ecuador.
The result means the Senegalese join Zambia as the only African sides in the round of 16.
South Africa and Guinea are already on their way home after being eliminated from the tournament.
Senegal put the ball in the back of the net after 54 minutes but the video assistant referee ruled that Aliou Badji’s effort was illegal as the forward had fouled Ecuador goalkeeper Jose Cevallos.
Senegal finished the match with 10 men after Cavin Diagne was sent off following a second bookable offence.
The share of the points in Jeonju means that Senegal finishes as Group F runners-up to the United States who drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia in the group’s other match.
Next up for Senegal is Mexico while Zambia will face Germany.
Results Group E: New Zealand 0-2 France | Honduras 2-0 Vietnam Group F: USA 1-1 Saudi Arabia | Senegal 0-0 Ecuador
Round of 16 – Tuesday 30 May:Venezuela-Japan – Korea-Portugal
Newly appointed Ghana head coach Kwesi Appiah has announced a strong side to face Ethiopia in next month’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations opening qualifier.
Ghana will battle in Group F alongside Sierra Leone, Kenya, and Ethiopia, in the qualifiers for a place in the 2019 Afcon to be hosted by Cameroon.
The re-appointed Kwesi Appiah has kept faith with regulars such as captain Asamoah Gyan and the Ayew brother, Andre and Jordan.
However, he has left out Newcastle forward Christian Atsu, Granada CF winger Mubarak Wakaso, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu and Razak Brimah from his 30-man selection in readiness for their opener against Ethiopia on 11 June to be played in the second city of Kumasi.
But, Appiah has given Abdul-Majeed Waris, the striker overlooked by former coach Avram Grant for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Gabon, a chance to revive his international career as a Black Star.
He has also included seven players from the domestic league in a squad that will also play friendly internationals against the United States and Mexico.
The Black Stars will travel to the US for a date with Mexico in Houston, Texas, on (28 June) and the US in Connecticut (1 July).
Goalkeepers: Richard Ofori (Wa Allstars); Adam Kwarasey (Brondby, Denmark); Felix Annan (Kotoko); Joseph Addo (Aduana Stars)
Defenders: Harrison Afful (Columbus Crew, USA); Daniel Amartey (Leicester City, England); Lumor Agbenyenu (Munich 1860, Germany); Daniel Darkwah (Aduana Stars, Ghana); John Boye (Sivasspor, Turkey); Rashid Sumalia (Al Gharafa, Qatar); Nicholas Opoku (B.Chelsea, Ghana); Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew, USA); Jerry Akaminko (Eskiserhispor, Turkey); Samuel Sarfo (Liberty, Ghana)
Midfielders: Mohammed Abu (Columbus Crew, USA); Afriyie Acquah (Torino, Italy); Isaac Sackey (Alanyaspor, Turkey); Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Ebenezer Ofori (Stuttgart, Germany); Kingsley Sarfo (Sirius, Sweden); Winful Cobbinah (Hearts of Oak); Yaw Yeboah (FC Twente, Holland); Godsway Donyoh (Nordjaelland, Denmark); Andre Ayew (West Ham, England); Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht, Belgium); Thomas Agyepong (NAC Breda, Holland)
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Sierra Leone | Highlights -