Under 20 national team defender Onesmus Chipango has hailed the team’s morale ahead of the 2023 TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Speaking to Diamond Sports after Thursday morning’s training session at the Tolip El Forsan Sports Centre, Chipango says everyone in the team has been giving their best.

“From our seven days stay in Ismailia, I can say the team looks good in all aspects. There is high competition in the camp and I hope everyone at a given time will prove that they really want to make mother Zambia proud.”

Chipango says the difference in weather conditions between Zambia and Egypt were a challenge during the first two days.

“The last seven days have been okay but the first two days were a challenge for us, adapting to the weather.”

Meanwhile, the defender has called for support from all Zambians ahead of the tournament.

“I would like to urge the fans back home to keep praying for us and believe in us. I know in the previous two games against Nigeria and Senegal fans back home had doubts but thats football, they need to believe that we will push and do our best at the tournament.”

Zambia is in the final stages of preparations for the U20 AFCON which kicks off this Sunday in Egypt.

The technical bench is expected to announce the final 21 member squad for the tournament on February 18, 2023 with Zambia’s first game being against Benin on February 21 in Alexandria.

By Nchimunya Ng’andu in Ismailia, Egypt