TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON: Bakala banking on previous edition experience for better showing in Morocco
Head coach of the Zambia U-17 national team, Ian Bakala believes the team much better in this year's TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Southern African nation is preparing for its third TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON appearance following their 2015 and 2023 appearances that both concluded in the group stages.
The Junior Chipolopolo side heads to Morocco as champions of the Southern African region after lifting the COSAFA title that earned them a place in the continental showpiece where they have been drawn in the same group with tournament hosts Morocco, Tanzania and Uganda.
The TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON will take place from 30 March to 19 April 2025 and will also serve as a qualifier to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 where Africa will be represented by 10 teams.
Speaking after the draw, Bakala welcomed the outcome, stating that the team's goal was to do better than their last edition where they could not advance from the group stages in Algeria.
'We are looking to do well than our last appearance and looking at the boys we have, we are going to do much better. We just have to be strong. It's a good test for us. Looking at the competition we are playing, I think a lot of countries have good players who are playing in Europe but for us, we have a local team with one or two expected but all round, we are going to do much better than before', said Bakala.
Giving his assessment on Zambia's Group A opponents, the 44-year-old former Zambian star, who has three TotalEnergies CAF AFCON tournaments to his name said Morocco will be the toughest team to face.
'We know how the North African teams play. One team that I think is stronger than the others is Morocco. Looking at the other two countries, we have played Tanzania in the other youth tournaments which I think they did well. They have a good side, and we are ready for them and Uganda. We will definitely qualify. We don't have an excuse. We have to take it a game at a time, and I think the first game will be the most important one', concluded the coach.
Zambia will be aiming to become the first Southern African nation to lift the continental youth title.
Angola and South Africa are the only Southern African nations to achieve a podium finish, with South Africa finishing second in 2015, while Angola secured a third place finish in 2019.
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