Zambia U23 coach Osward Mutapa says there is nothing special to fear about facing defending U23 AFCON champions Egypt in next year’s rendezvous during the final round qualifiers.
The U23 AFCON title holders battle Zambia next March to decide who goes through to next July’s tournament in Morocco.
“Egypt is a team like any other team we have faced. They are a beatable side. We need good preparations and the right exposure coupled with quality friendlies before we face them,” Mutapa said.
“Otherwise, there is nothing special to fear in the Egypt team and I’m confident we shall have a strong team when that time comes.
“What is important is preparation. It’s not necessarily about playing teams of the same type of football as Egypt but playing high-profile teams that will help us build a strong team.”
Zambia will be away in the first leg in March at dates to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, both sides toiled to reach the final leg.
Zambia beat Sierra Leone 1-0 on Saturday thanks to a 65th minute Andrew Phiri goal to advance 2-1 on aggregate.
In the first leg, Mutapa’s side snatched a last-minute equaliser away in Monrovia on October 22 to earn a valuable 1-1 draw.
Furthermore, both goals came via penalties in a game Sierra Leone took the lead in the 57th minute through Alie Conteh and Zambia equalized in the 88th minute through Joshua Mutale.
Egypt on the other hand beat Eswatini 1-0 in the final leg played last Sunday in Alexandria courtesy of a 70thminute goal by Emad Mayhoub.
The first leg in Eswatini finished scoreless in a match the home side was down to 10 -men within the first 10m minutes of the first half.
Meanwhile, the winner over both legs next March will join seven other sides at the 2023 U23 AFCON where the top three finishers will automatically qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The fourth place finisher will go into an inter-continental playoff.
