Zambia Under-17 coach Mumamba Numba says his team is ready for the 2017 COSAFA U17 Cup in Mauritius.

Numba’s side on Friday played a high-profile local friendly in Lusaka against the defending FAZ Super Division champions Zanaco.

Zambia U17 lost that match 2-0 at Sunset Stadium via late goals from Andrew Kwiliko and Boyd Mwangelwa in the 81st and 90th minutes respectively.

“I think so far so good. From what we have seen, our general impression of this game is that the young boys are doing very fine just looking at the way they have accounted for themselves playing against Zanaco,” Numba said.

“We held Zanaco, a big team, for over 45 minutes without conceding a goal which is a very positive sign on our part.

“The two goals we conceded were just a lapse in our defence.

“Otherwise the boys are doing fine and responding well to training and we have seen that we have a team that can represent mother Zambia in Mauritius.”

Numba,who is also Zanaco head coach, is expected to name his final 20-member team this weekend before the team leaves for Mauritius on July 18 ahead of the tournament that will run from July 21-31.

Zambia are in Group B at the tournament Mauritius is hosting fors second successive year.

Mozambique, Madagascar and 2016 runners-up South Africa are Zambia’s Group B opponents.