AFCON U-20 Tournament:
- Final: Zambia 2-0 Senegal
- 3rd place play off: Guinea 2-1 South Africa
Zambia defeated their counterparts from Senegal 2-0 to win the CAF U-20 Championship on Sunday evening.
Red hot striker Patson Daka and Edward Chilufya were each on target in the first half at the Heroes National Stadium in Lusaka, the capital city.
The Junior Chipolopolo side thus joined Angola (winners in 2001) as the second Southern African nation to win the event.
As successful hosts, they are the fourth side to achieve the feat after Morocco (1997), Ghana (1999) and Congo (2007).
Daka, a graduate of the Airtel Rising Stars U-17 programme was at the right place in the right timing to tap home the opener after 17 minutes when Senegal goalie Lamine Sarr spilled the ball in his path following a weak attempt from Fashion Sinkala.
Chilufya doubled the lead on 34 minutes to give assured hope to over 50,000 spectators in the terraces.
After the game, Zambia’s goalie Mangani Banda took home the man of the accolade with teammate Daka crowned player of the tourney after finishing with 4 goals off 6 matches.
Zambia’s president Edgar Lungu watched the final match.
Meanwhile, in the third place playoff, Guinea recovered from a goal down to pinch South Africa 2-1 and claim bronze.
Naby Bangoura converted a late penalty with 5 minutes left on the clock.
Liam Jordan gave the Junior South Africans the lead inside the first five minutes.
Katlego Mohamme headed into his own net on 8 minutes as the game remained level until Bangoura’s penalty.