08 July 2018– Burger-King sponsored South Africa’s national under-20, Amajita, were held to an entertaining 3-3 draw by host Zambia, after Francisco Mwepu scored a crucial equalizer with a header just five minutes after Amajita were in the lead.
Both sides used this friendly encounter to prepare for their upcoming 2019 Africa Under-20 Cup of Nations third round first leg qualifier which will take place this coming weekend.
Zambia will host Burundi this coming Saturday, while Amajita will play Malawi on July 15th at home (Moruleng Stadium, Rustenburg) as well.
The first half proved to be a balanced affair as both took turns in attacking each other in search for goals up in the final third. And though South Africa enjoyed much freedom moving forward as compared to their opponents, it was the Young Chipolopolos who were able to register the first goal on the day. That goal came from their attacking midfielder, Kings Kangwa, who fired in a powerful outside the box, following a failed clearance by Amajita from a cross.
South Africa’s national juniors could have made it 1-1 just nine minutes after conceding when Sibusiso Mbiliso whipped in a curled cross from a set piece. However, both Lyle Foster and Siphelele Mkhize missed that ball by inches, giving more room for the opposition to clear.
Just five minutes before the halftime break, Foster made up for that earlier missed chance and scored with an easy tap-in to give Amajita a fighting chance going in the halftime break.
In the second period of the match both sides came back with more scoring prowess in front of goal. First it was Zambia who scored through Martin Njobvu just five minutes into the half. A minute later Amajita’s central midfielder, Wiseman Meyiwa, responded with a thunderbolt of a shot just outside the box. Amajita made it 3-2 in the 67 minute through Promise Mkhuma shot and where able to hold on to that lead for a minimum of five minutes. Zambia fought hard and made it 3-all through Francisco Mwepu header scored from a corner to save the host from blushes in front of their home supporters.