Amajimbos prepare for Zambia
By Neo Poho
South Africa U/17 head coach Duncan Crowie is optimistic his side will turn their fortunes around and get the much needed victory against Zambia in their second group stage match of the 2023 U/17 Africa Cup of Nations at the Stade Mohamed-Hamlaoui Stadium in Algeria on Wednesday night.
South Africa lost 2-0 to Morocco in their opening match in group B over the past weekend at the Stade Mohamed-Hamlaoui Stadium while Zambia also lost 1-0 to Nigeria.
Despite the loss to Morocco, Crowie believes a positive mindset from the players as they prepare for the Zambia clash will give them the upper hand over their opponents.
"It is important for us to tell them that they need a lot of positives in the game and we also need to show them the positives of the previous game to build on it heading into the next one.
There are obviously some things we need to improve on, I don't think it's a technical thing but more of having composure in the final third, we need to get more touches and passes until we get to they final third," Crowie said.
With Morocco only scoring in the last 20 minutes of the encounter on Sunday night, Crowie wants his side to be more alert and focused in the dying stages of the match against Zambia.
"We need to be on top of our game against Zambia and not lose focus especially in the second half because that forms part of the crucial moments in the match, we genuinely had the upper hand in the opening match but a lapse of concentration in the second half killed us."
With Amajimbos and Zambia U/17 having met each other before in continental football five times, South Africa has the upper hand going into the clash on Wednesday night by winning three of the five encounters while Zambia has only managed to secure two victories.
Kick-off at the Stade Mohamed-Hamlaoui Stadium on Wednesday night is at 21:00 o'clock.
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