Zambia Under-17 Boys coach Dennis Makinka has praised his team following their 3-1 opening victory against Indonesia at the 2025 Qatar World Cup. The match started with high intensity, and Mapalo Simute appeared to score the tournament’s fastest goal, tapping in a Kelvin Chipelu cross just 24 seconds after kickoff. However, the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.
Zambia dominated the early exchanges but fell behind in the 12th minute when Indonesia scored against the run of play through a Muhamed Gholy effort. Despite conceding, the Zambian players maintained their shape and continued probing the Indonesian defense. Their persistence paid off in the 35th minute when Able Nyirongo converted a chance created by Chipelu to level the score.
Two minutes later, Nyirongo completed his brace with a long-range strike to give Zambia the lead. The victory was sealed shortly after halftime when Lukonde Mwale added a third goal, extending the lead to 3-1 and securing all three points. Coach Makinka expressed satisfaction with the result, saying, “We needed the three points in the first game. We have gotten what we planned for, and I am very happy.”
The win places Zambia second in Group H with three points, equal to group leaders Brazil. Defender Andrew Mwape described the match as challenging, noting the intensity of the game. “It was not easy,” Mwape said, “we pushed for a positive result. The game was intense, but according to the way the coaches told us, we have to approach each game as it is. That’s how we managed to get positive results.”
Zambia’s performance highlighted their resilience and attacking intent, setting a positive tone for their campaign in the tournament. With Nyirongo’s clinical finishing and the team’s collective discipline, Zambia now aims to build on the opening victory as they prepare for the next group stage matches.