In the second Group C match of the ongoing U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Zambia rallied to snatch an arduous 1-1 draw against Benin on Tuesday night.
Rickson Ng’ambi put the ball in the back of the net on the hour mark to salvage a point for the Junior Chipolopolo following Rodolfo Aloko’s smart finish for The Cheetahs.
FULL-TIME! ⏰
The points are shared at Alexandria Stadium 🤝 #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 pic.twitter.com/EAra4EapSa
— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 (@CAF_Online) February 21, 2023
Benin caused all kinds of problems for the Zambian defence early on in the game, with Tessilimi Olatoundji and Samidou Bawa pressing high up the pitch while Aloko’s stinging effort was blocked for a corner as Benin continued to increase the pressure.
The Young Chipolopolo’s were caught flat footed once again when Aloko recycled possession in a dangerous area and delightfully flicked a pass to Farid Edou whose shot was blocked.
The deadlock was broken 13 minutes after the resumption of the second half by Benin courtesy of Aloko’s cheeky finish. The Dynamo D’abomey midfielder cleverly turned his marker in the box before putting his shot past Jeban Tembo to give the West Africans a deserved lead.
Benin Keeper Dava Agossa miscued his clearance as he was under pressure from Derrick Bulaya, who then supplied the assist to Ng’ambi to bring the Zambians back into the game.
🇬🇲 ➕ 3️⃣
🇧🇯 🤝 🇿🇲Here’s how group C stands after the end of matchday 1️⃣#TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 pic.twitter.com/jeq1GSmikA
— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 (@CAF_Online) February 21, 2023
In the opening game between The Gambia and Tunisia, Alagie Saine’s header late in the game got all available points to send the Young Scorpions to the top of Group C.
The match was a repeat of the third-place match of the 2021 edition in which the Gambians took the bragging rights home having won the ensuing penalty shootouts in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
FULL-TIME! ⏰
Gambia claim all 3️⃣ points against Tunisia in a feisty group C encounter 🔥 #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 pic.twitter.com/abX7UHs63T
— #TotalEnergiesAFCONU20 (@CAF_Online) February 21, 2023
Coach Abdoulie Bojang’s Gambian side enjoyed the lion share of possession as the trio of Mahmud Bajo, Haruna Rasid Njie and Alieu Gibba dictated the flow of the game for the West Africans who were appearing in the tournament for the fourth time in their history.
Changes were made by both sides in the second half, but it was Gambia who had the best opportunity from Rasid Njie after 70 minutes. The midfielder headed over from Sainey Sanyang’s cross from close range.
The Tunisian resistance was then broken six minutes from normal time when Saine headed in Sanyang’s cross in off the post to help The Gambia claim all three points.
As the second round of matches begin today, the Junior Chipolopolos of Zambia will face the Young Scorpions at 6pm on Friday, while The Cheetahs of Benin will lock horns with the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia at 3pm.
