Zambia announced its arrival at the 2025 U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in emphatic fashion, securing a dominant 4-1 victory over Tanzania in their opening Group A encounter in Morocco.
Early dominance sets the tone
Zambia wasted no time asserting control, with Kalimina opening the scoring in the eighth minute.
The early goal put the Tanzanian defense under immediate pressure, and Zambia continued to dictate the tempo of the match.
Just before the halftime whistle, Nyirongo doubled the lead, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to give Zambia a comfortable 2-0 advantage at the break.
Tanzania struggled to contain the Zambian attack, with their defensive frailties becoming more evident as the match progressed.
Zambia’s ruthless second half
Emerging from the dressing room with confidence, Zambia maintained their attacking intent.
Their dominance paid off once again in the 79th minute when Mutale found the back of the net, effectively sealing the victory with a well-taken third goal.
Tanzania, despite moments of promising build-up play, found it difficult to break down Zambia’s well-organized defense.
However, they managed to pull one goal back in stoppage time through Sagwe, offering a late moment of consolation.
But any hopes of a late comeback were swiftly extinguished when Phiri added Zambia’s fourth goal in the dying moments of the match, cementing an impressive performance for the team.
A strong statement in Group A
The resounding 4-1 victory not only secured Zambia three valuable points but also sent a strong warning to their Group A rivals.
Their attacking efficiency and defensive solidity will make them a formidable force in the tournament.
For Tanzania, the heavy defeat highlights areas in need of improvement as they prepare for their next group fixture.
With qualification hopes still alive, they will need to regroup quickly to remain in contention.
Zambia’s next challenge will test their consistency, but after such a convincing start, they have positioned themselves as serious contenders in the tournament.
