South Africa will face a more familiar foe when they tussle with Zambia at the Africa U23 Cup of Nations today as they seek to get their bid for a place at the Olympic Games back on track.
Owen da Gama’s side battled with the pace and power of Senegal in their Group A opener on Saturday as they lost 3-1 and now meet a Zambian side that is undoubtedly talented, but who play a style similar to South Africa that “Amaglug-glug” should find easier to play against.
It is a must-win game for both teams as Zambia lost their first match 2-1 to an impressive Tunisia, meaning the loser will almost certainly give up their dreams of playing in Rio de Janeiro.
South Africa playmaker Keagan Dolly is well aware of the gifts his side’s defensive lapses handed to Senegal in their first game and knows, too, that a repeat will be fatal against a Zambian side that showed plenty of quality against the Tunisians.
“If you look at our opening match we were in control in the first few minutes, but did not take our chances,” said Dolly.
“Senegal used the two opportunities they got and it was a setback for us to let them score two early goals – it became difficult to get back into the game.
“We then started playing long balls, which is not our strength and things just didn’t go our way. But I have belief in this team. I still think we can go far,” he said.
Dolly added that Zambia will test the mental strength of the South African team as much as anything, and whether they have the quality to bounce back from their opening day setback.
“The Zambia match is going to challenge the belief in ourselves and to test if we are really a team,” he said before bizarrely adding the Senegal defeat might be a blessing in disguise.
“I think it was good for the team to lose the first game so we can get our focus and start winning games.”
If the team were not focused before the Senegal loss then their chances of success in this tournament were zero before they arrived in Dakar.
“Our focus now is on the Zambia match and the one after that. We are all aware that the next two games are very important if we want to qualify, so we have to start focusing on what’s good for our team, what our strengths are and play accordingly,” Dolly added.
Zambia coach Fighton Simukonda said his side will go “all out” to inflict a second defeat on South Africa.
“We have no option now. We must go flat out and win all the remaining games. Our target has not changed. It is still to go to the Olympics,” he said.
“We have two games remaining, we can still win and qualify. Football is a funny sport, anything can happen in the next two matches.”
Time to stand and deliver
Owen da Gama’s side battled with the pace and power of Senegal in their Group A opener on Saturday as they lost 3-1 and now meet a Zambian side that is undoubtedly talented, but who play a style similar to South Africa that “Amaglug-glug” should find easier to play against.
It is a must-win game for both teams as Zambia lost their first match 2-1 to an impressive Tunisia, meaning the loser will almost certainly give up their dreams of playing in Rio de Janeiro.
South Africa playmaker Keagan Dolly is well aware of the gifts his side’s defensive lapses handed to Senegal in their first game and knows, too, that a repeat will be fatal against a Zambian side that showed plenty of quality against the Tunisians.
“If you look at our opening match we were in control in the first few minutes, but did not take our chances,” said Dolly.
“Senegal used the two opportunities they got and it was a setback for us to let them score two early goals – it became difficult to get back into the game.
“We then started playing long balls, which is not our strength and things just didn’t go our way. But I have belief in this team. I still think we can go far,” he said.
Dolly added that Zambia will test the mental strength of the South African team as much as anything, and whether they have the quality to bounce back from their opening day setback.
“The Zambia match is going to challenge the belief in ourselves and to test if we are really a team,” he said before bizarrely adding the Senegal defeat might be a blessing in disguise.
“I think it was good for the team to lose the first game so we can get our focus and start winning games.”
If the team were not focused before the Senegal loss then their chances of success in this tournament were zero before they arrived in Dakar.
“Our focus now is on the Zambia match and the one after that. We are all aware that the next two games are very important if we want to qualify, so we have to start focusing on what’s good for our team, what our strengths are and play accordingly,” Dolly added.
Zambia coach Fighton Simukonda said his side will go “all out” to inflict a second defeat on South Africa.
“We have no option now. We must go flat out and win all the remaining games. Our target has not changed. It is still to go to the Olympics,” he said.
“We have two games remaining, we can still win and qualify. Football is a funny sport, anything can happen in the next two matches.”
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