AFCON U20: Zambia come from behind but only manage draw against Benin

2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) U20 champions Zambia had to come from behind to rescue a point against Benin in their opening Group C match at the 2023 edition of the junior competition ongoing in Egypt as they played to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday evening.

In the clash staged at the Alexandria Stadium, the Young Chipolopolo, who were returning to the continental stage after failing to qualify for the last two editions in Niger and Mauritania following their 2017 triumph on home soil, managed to salvage a point after capitalizing on a poor mistake from the Benin goalkeeper who was made to pay for his mistake.

After a scoreless first half, Benin, who qualified to the jamboree courtesy of finishing top of Group A in the WAFU Zone B, who managed to take the lead in the 57th minute after a very well worked corner that ended in the back of the net after Rodolfo Aloko’s composed strike that squeezed the ball between the keeper’s legs.

However, their advantage only lasted three minutes after a terrible goalkeeping mistake by David Agossa who gifted easy possession to Zambia, Rickson Ng’ambi finishing off the move as his attempted strike was bundled across the line by Benin to restore parity in the game.

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That however proved to be the final meaningful moment in the game as the two sides ended up sharing the spoils in their opening match in Group C.

Earlier on, the Gambia manage to fork out a hard fought 1-0 victory over Tunisia which now gives them an early control in the group.

Zambia are second with the Cheetahs, who are hoping to replicate their 2005 performance when they beat Morocco on penalties to secure bronze on home soil, sitting in third. Tunisia are rooted bottom of the log.

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