Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema Celebrates COSAFA Championship-Winning Under-17 Teams

In honor of the country's under-17 boys' and girls' teams, who won the COSAFA Championship crowns in Johannesburg, South Africa, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema gave a formal luncheon at the Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka on Friday.

The Zambian leader praised the players and their coaches for their exceptional performances, emphasizing how their victories have brought pride to the nation. On his Facebook page, Hichilema expressed his appreciation for the teams, stating:

“We are proud of the young men and women for their success. Zambia is indeed back in the Champions League,” he wrote.

Hichilema also urged athletes to keep aiming high, telling them to take advantage of every chance and develop their skills through discipline and hard effort. He assured the teams of the government's ongoing support for sports development in Zambia. “Your government is here to support you and we will continue with our sports development program,” he added.

The boys’ team triumphed over Angola 2-1 to retain the COSAFA Qualifiers for the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), while the girls’ team achieved an impressive 15-0 victory over Lesotho to secure the championship in their category.