By McGeorge Mbare
Zimbabwe’s U20 national team, the Young Warriors, faced a heartbreaking exit from the COSAFA AFCON U20 Championship, succumbing to a dramatic 6-5 penalty shootout defeat against Zambia, after the match had finished deadlocked at 2 all in regulation
Despite the loss, the Young Warriors can leave the tournament with their head held up high as they have shown remarkable progress under the guidance of coach Simon Marange, who took charge earlier this year.
Marange led the team to the Four Nations tournament in Malawi and the COSAFA championship which are acting also as qualifiers for AFCON.
Unfortunately, their journey in the championship came to an end in the semifinals.
The Young Warriors were just 90 minutes away from securing a place in the finals. Zambia initially took the lead in the 25th minute with a goal from David Simukonda. However, the Warriors responded positively, equalizing in the 76th minute and forcing the match into a penalty shootout after 90 minutes of play.
During the shootout, both teams’ goalkeepers showcased their skills. Zambia successfully converted all but one of their penalties, while the Young Warriors missed two, leading to their elimination from the tournament.
In other news, South Africa’s Amajita secured a victory over Angola, earning a spot in the final alongside Zambia and qualifying for the 2025 U20 AFCON. This marks Amajita’s return to the U20 tournament for the first time in five years.