Lusaka, Dec 20 (IANS): Zambian President Edgar Lungu has congratulated the country's Under-20 national soccer team for emerging as winners of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) junior tournament.

The Junior Chipolopolo won the regional tournament after beating hosts South Africa 2-1 on Friday night, capturing the championship for the 11th time, reported Xinhua.

Lungu expressed gratitude for the team's performance at the tournament, and hoped that the team could continue it in future tournaments.

"As patron of Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), I wish to congratulate Andrew Kamanga, the president of FAZ and his entire executive for putting together necessary arrangements that led to this successful outcome. I wish to assure that my government will support the development of football and other sports disciplines in the country," he said in a statement on Monday.

The team won the tournament without losing a single game. Next February, Zambia will host the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Africa Cup of Nations Under-20 tournament.