Bakala confident Zambia can down Morocco

Zambia face Morocco on Saturday in Annaba in a must-win fixture for them to retain their hopes of squeezing into the quarterfinals of the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

Winless in their first two matches, Zambia can progress to the quarterfinals if they beat Morocco as it will put them through as one of the best two third-placed teams across the three groups.

Bakala knows this too well, and he beams confidence that his team has what it takes to beat the group leaders.

“We have to focus on our game and get a result. We are going to seek just one thing and that is a win. We have to put behind the results of the first two games and focus on this match ahead of us,” the tactician said.

He added: “I am confident in my players and I know that in football, everything is possible. We will put everything into that game and we are ready to battle for that win. We need to maintain our focus and confidence.”

The Zambians come into the match fresh from a 3-2 loss at the hands of South Africa in a tough Cosafa derby and they will take positives from that game, coming into the duel against Morocco.

“The game against South Africa was definitely frustrating. We did what we could, we got two goals and they scored again at the very end of the game. It is now behind us, the spirit is very strong, we want to win tomorrow against Morocco,” said goalkeeper Hendrix Kanyungulu, who accompanied Bakala to the pre-match press conference.

The tactician has now called for commitment from his players as they give it one more push for a place in the last eight.