Pretoria, South Africa – (African Boulevard News) – South Africa’s U17 team, led by head coach Vicky Mkhawana, pulled off a spectacular 3-2 victory over Zambia in their second Group B match of the TotalEnergies U17 African Cup of Nations. Speaking after the match, Mkhawana hailed his team’s resilience, stating that they fought “blood and sweat” to come out on top.
The match was a must-win for both sides, having drawn their opening matches. South Africa took control from the start, with their midfielder, Mduduzi Shabalala, opening the scoring in the third minute. Zambia responded with two quick goals from their striker, Lameck Banda, to take the lead. But South Africa remained undeterred, with Siphesihle Mkhize equalizing before the break.
The second half was a tense affair, with both teams looking to take the lead. But it was South Africa’s Lethabo Baloyi who scored the decisive goal in the 65th minute, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Mkhawana was full of praise for his team after the match, stating that “it was an emotional rollercoaster, but we fought blood and sweat to get the result. We knew it was a must-win game, and the boys showed great character to come back from behind.”
The win puts South Africa in a strong position to qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament. They will face their final group stage match against Lesotho on Saturday, needing just a draw to progress.
The TotalEnergies U17 African Cup of Nations is a prestigious tournament that showcases the best young talent from across Africa. It is an opportunity for young players to compete against their peers and gain valuable experience in a highly competitive environment.
The tournament has seen some outstanding performances so far, with Nigeria, Senegal, and Cameroon dominating their respective groups. South Africa’s victory over Zambia was a memorable moment for the team and their fans, and they will be hoping to build on this momentum as they progress through the tournament.
In conclusion, South Africa’s U17 team, led by coach Vicky Mkhawana, showed great character and determination to secure a crucial 3-2 victory over Zambia in their second Group B match of the TotalEnergies U17 African Cup of Nations. The win puts them in a strong position to qualify for the quarter-finals, and they will be looking to build on this momentum as the tournament progresses.
