Zambia Under 20 coach Chisi Mbewe says they dedicated Sunday’s 2022 COSAFA Under 20 Cup triumph to Enock Mwepu and the Zambian people.
Young Chipolopolo ousted Mozambique as regional junior kings following a 1-0 win in the final played at Somhlolo Stadium in the tournament Eswatini hosts from October 7-16.
“We knew what we wanted this is for everyone back home, and we also dedicate it to our skipper Enock Mwepu,” Mbewe said in a post-match interview.
Chipolopolo captain and midfielder Mwepu has been forced to retire at the age of 24 due to a hereditary heart condition detected by his club medical team at English club Brighton and Hove Albion last week.
Mwepu also won the 2017 U20 AFCON as host and, with his teammates, later reached the quarterfinals of the 2017 FIFA U20 U2 World Cup in South Korea, both were firsts for Zambia.
Meanwhile, Zambia also continued to make COSAFA U20 Cup history after lifting an unprecedented 12th junior regional championship.
South Africa is the second most successful COSAFA U20 nation, with eight wins.
The contest at Somhlolo was settled in the 36th minute when striker Kingstone Mutandwa eluded two markers to fire the game’s only goal in the 46th minute.
Mutandwa’s latched on to a long ball from Zambia U20 captain and midfielder Dominic Kanda that Mozambique and forward Ivan Tropa failed to intercept on the edge of the area.
Sunday’s victory continued Zambia’s success in COSAFA Cup events in 2022.
In July, Chipolopolo won the COSAFA Cup when they beat Namibia 1-0 in Durban.
In August, Green Buffaloes lifted the COSAFA Zone qualifiers for the 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League, and in September, the Zambia women’s national team won their debut COSAFA Women’s Cup title.
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