Zambia Takes Dramatic Win Over Tanzania in Group A

In a thrilling encounter at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Zambia edged past Tanzania with a nail-biting 1-0 victory on Tuesday evening in Ismailia. The decisive moment came in the final seconds when Joseph Sabobo converted a penalty deep into stoppage time.

As the match unfolded, both teams engaged in a fierce and physical battle, yet clear chances were few and far between. Just when it seemed the game would end in a stalemate, Zambia pressed on relentlessly.

The crucial penalty was awarded in the 11th minute of added time when VAR intervened, highlighting a foul by Ismail Ally on Emmanuel Mutale in the box. Sabobo confidently stepped up and transformed the spot kick, placing it perfectly into the bottom left corner, which secured all three points for the Young Chipolopolo.

Despite Tanzania’s threatening presence at times, with several shots on target that challenged Zambia’s defense, they failed to capitalize on key chances, notably with efforts from Jammy Simba and Cyprian Kachwele.

The encounter was marked by frequent stoppages due to injuries and a series of yellow cards, a testament to the high stakes of the match. Zambia made three substitutions at halftime, a strategy that injected fresh energy and ultimately turned the tide in their favor as they surged in the final moments.

This victory propels Zambia into second place in Group A, following Sierra Leone, who are set to face South Africa in an upcoming match. Meanwhile, Tanzania finds itself in a tough spot, remaining at the bottom of the group with no points from their three matches played.