By FELIX MALUNGA and GWEN CHIPASULA –
UNDER-20 national soccer captain, Lubambo Musonda has said the experience he gained at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be vital for Zambia at the 2015 African Youth Championship which kicks-off in Senegal today.

Musonda

Musonda said in an interview from Mbour yesterday that he hoped his experience from the 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea would rub off on his teammates as Zambia targets a third FIFA Under-20 World Cup qualification.
The Armenia-based left winger said all the players in the team were expectant at the Senegal CAF Under-20 Championship and had high hopes of performing well.
“I hope my experience gained from the 2015 AFCON will be vital to inspire my colleagues at the Africa Under-20 Championship. Everybody in camp is expectant and has high hopes of winning here. We can only hope for the best,” Musonda said.
Musonda made his AFCON debut for the senior national team in Equatorial Guinea and featured in two games for the Chipolopolo.
Apart from Musonda, other Under-20 players who were part of the Chipolopolo at the 2015 AFCON are midfielder Spencer Sautu and striker Patrick Ngoma.
Coach Hector Chilombo said his charges have been psyched well before facing Mali in their opening Group B match tomorrow at the 5,000-capacity Stade Caroline Faye in Mbour.
Chilombo predicted a tough match against Mali, saying it was not easy to face West African opposition at continental championships.
He, however, said last week’s friendly against hosts, Senegal gave his team an insight of what to expect from West African teams.
The Under-20 trainer said his immediate focus was to win the first game against Mali and set the stage for qualification to the semi-finals which would guarantee Zambia a place at the 2015 FIFA Under-20 World Cup finals in New Zealand.
Zambia has twice – 1999 and 2007- qualified to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup finals but never won the African Youth Championship.
Meanwhile, Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya has advised the Under 23 soccer team to aim at winning their opening match against Nigeria when the two sides clash in the Congo Brazzaville 2015 All Africa Games final round qualifier.
Kalusha said this on Friday when he visited the team during a training session at BP Sports Complex in Lusaka.
Kalusha also appealed to fans to give credit to the national teams whenever they qualify for a tournament as it was not an easy task.