Tanzania’s journey at the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations came to a disappointing end after they lost all three of their Group A matches without scoring a single goal.

Their final group game on Tuesday evening saw them fall 1-0 to Zambia in a dramatic encounter at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia.

Despite putting up a spirited fight, Tanzania were undone by a stoppage-time penalty converted by Zambia’s Joseph Sabobo.

The match had been fiercely contested, with few clear-cut chances for either side. Tanzania showed promise in stretches, forcing Zambia’s defence into action with efforts from Jammy Simba and Cyprian Kachwele. However, their inability to find the back of the net ultimately proved costly.

As the clock ticked deep into added time, Zambia found their breakthrough. After a VAR review, Tanzanian defender Ismail Ally was penalized for a foul on Emmanuel Mutale in the box. Sabobo made no mistake from the spot, calmly sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to hand Zambia the victory.

The game was marred by frequent stoppages for injuries and several yellow cards, highlighting the intensity and high stakes of the contest. Zambia’s halftime substitutions injected fresh energy into their side, allowing them to gain control in the closing stages.

The defeat leaves Tanzania rooted at the bottom of Group A with zero points and no goals scored, officially ending their campaign. Meanwhile, Zambia’s victory propelled them to second place, behind Sierra Leone, who were set to face South Africa.

Attention now shifts to Kenya, who are also fighting for survival at the tournament. The Rising Stars, bottom of Group B with zero points, face a must-win clash against Nigeria on Wednesday, 7 May.

To stand any chance of progressing to the quarter-finals, Kenya must beat the Flying Eagles and hope other results go their way, as only the top two teams and two best third-placed teams advance to the last eight.

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