Day 3 Roundup: Gambia sole winners in Group C, lucky Zambia nick 1-point

U-20 AFCON Day 3 Roundup: Gambia sole winners in Group C, lucky Zambia nick 1-point

Jidechi Chidiezie 22:56 - 21.02.2023

The second round of group matches is expected to start on Wednesday, with Group C playing next on Friday.

Group C took the centre stage on Tuesday, as day three of the 2023 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations approached its climax with four teams participating.

It was a day that saw teams that have all at least, gotten to the semifinals of this competition in recent years, show what they had in store for the Egypt-hosted tournament.

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Of the two matches played at the Alexandria Stadium, only one produced a winner.

Gambia off to a flying start

U-20 AFCON: Gambia 1-0 Tunisia

In a game of two-time bronze medallists and one-time fourth-placed team, Gambia again, showed why they were a better side to Tunisia as they secured a 1-0 victory on Tuesday.

The sides who met at the Alexandria Stadium were in for a repeat of 2021's bronze medal match which Gambia had won in Mauritania.

Of course, things were not going to change in Egypt, and Gambia - after numerous wasted attempts - finally found the back of the net courtesy of an 84th-minute by Alagie Saine.

The victory sees the Young Scorpions, move to the summit of Group C, with a fixture against Zambia, due on Friday.

Former champions Zambia held in Alexandria

U-20 AFCON: Benin 1-1 Zambia

2017 champions Zambia refused to fall victim to Benin Republic on Tuesday, as they fought hard to come from behind to secure a 1-1 draw.

Zambia had a difficult time defending against Benin, whose free-flowing attacking football helped them to have absolute control of the game.

At some point, their persistence paid off as Rodolfo Aloko gave them the opener in the 57th minute of the game, but substitute Rickson Ng'ambi, equalized only three minutes later to ensure the Chipololo had something they could temporarily savour.

At full-time, the result stood at 1-all leaving both teams to hope for better in their second group games on Friday.

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