By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
HISTORY is beckoning for the Zambia Under-17 soccer team this afternoon when Chris Kaunda’s boys take on Nigeria in a make-or-break Niger 2015 Africa Junior Championship final Group A match in Niamey.
Zambia hopes to upset continental giants, Nigeria for a place in the semi-finals of the tournament which is packaged with it a place at the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile.
Never has Zambia qualified to the Africa Under-17 Championship and since it is continent’s only route to the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, this means the young Chipolopolo have never come nearer to the junior World Cup.
But that dream of a World Cup appearance for the under-17s is just 90 minutes away with team captain Patson Daka promising to do his ‘gig’ against Nigeria in what will be ‘biggest bash’ of the tournament so far.
It is Daka’s astuteness in front of goal that has brought Zambia this far and he does not feel like slowing down anytime soon.
He was Africa’s top scorer in the qualifiers with five goals.
This afternoon, Daka and his teammates come up against a common enemy whose imposing stature has always been a bother for Zambia at all levels of African football.
But Daka, who has one goal to his name in this tournament, believes football is not just about the big body but a lot more.
“Nigeria may have a name, stature and height but in football that is not all you need, I believe to succeed, you have to have it in mind and as well as the skill. We have the skill and this game will see Zambia going through,” the team captain said.
Zambia is lying third on the Group A log with three points from two games and trail Nigeria and Guinea by a point.
A win today will be the surest way of making the last four and to the World Cup.

. Kaunda

Coach Chris Kaunda is fully aware of what is at stake but has kept his cool and told the boys to stick to the game plan and deliver history for Zambia.
“This game against Nigeria has no pressure, the pressure was in game against Niger. First we needed to win no matter what and then we were playing a home team which had supporters behind them, then also they needed to win so it made the game a pressure match.
“But the boys came out on top. So the Nigeria game has less pressure. We want to go to Chile (World Cup) and we shall not let the dream falter when we are just 90 minutes away. The guys are playing as a unit and tribute to newcomers who are fitting in so well,” he said.
He was obviously referring to Ngosa Sunzu, who was brought into the travelling team at the last minute as well as defender Alfred Chirwa, a replacement for Wayne Museba who limped off in the match against Niger (though fit again) and gelled seamlessly.
One blemish on Zambia will be the absence of defenders Edward Chimfwembe and Prosper Chilufya who are suspended with Kaunda stating that he has enough manpower to fill in.
Nigeria, on the other hand, are without a loss in this campaign and need just a draw to go through and will look to tournament’s leading scorer Kelechi Nwakali, who has two goals,  as well as Victor Osimhen to get them to Chile.
Probable line-up: Daniel Sikanyika, Wayne Museba, Gift Sikaonga, Salati Lungu, Gary Mwelwa, Alfred Chirwa, Ngosa Sunzu, Enock Mwepu, Musonda Siame, Patson Daka, Kenny Sinkala.