Friday, March 29, 2024

Improved Zambia Fall to Slick South Africa

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South Africa all but ended 10-man Zambia’s hopes of a semifinal place at this years Cosafa Under-20 Cup after beating their archrivals 2-0 at De Beers stadium in Kimberley this afternoon.

Amajita took the lead barely 2 minutes played into the first half after dead-ball specialist and SuperSport United midfielder Masibusane Zongo curled in a long-range freekick that caught William Chibale off guard.

“That early goal unsettled us but we played well today but just couldn’t convert our chances,” coach Oswald Mutapa said after the game.

Yes, Zambia did play well and the much anticipated midfield duel between Nathan Sinkala and South African Thulani Serero did not disappoint.

Sinkala shifted a gear higher in combative mode as Serero was as vibrant as ever but was given little room to pull out all his little tricks.

Henry Banda too hit a good tone today and gave South Africa’s defence a torrid time and had his own little side-show with South African defender Michael Morton but as the game wore the little bite that Zambia possessed begun to fade.

Meanwhile, Banda will be missed by Zambia in their final game against Lesotho on Wednesday after receiving his second yellow card of the tournament.

Morgan Kaoma was shackled by Thulani Hlatshwayo before being substituted in the 68th minute and his replacement Saint Nkhoma added no value in attack before he was red carded in the 83rd minute following an innocuous looking tackle on the latter South African defender.

South Africa on the other had were as efficient as ever in attack with Serero giving Zambia’s defence a hard time while Zongo on three occasions teased Chiobale with his trademark free kicks.

South Africa sealed the win in the 64th minute after Mandla Masango side-footed the ball after benefiting from a dizzy run into the box by Sibusiso Mxoyana.

The hosts now need a draw on Wednesday against Seychelles to confirm their place in Fridays semifinals while Zambia seemingly hang on with the hope of a mathematical chance of beating them to that penultimate stage slot.

38 COMMENTS

  1. “That early goal unsettled us but we played well today but just couldn’t convert our chances,” coach Oswald Mutapa said after the game.

    The “Sembe ta wina” culture is still alive and kicking!!!

  2. “Improved Zambia fall to slick south Africa”. That title is misleading, on one hand you say “improved” on the other you say their hopes of qualifying to semis hang in balance, ladies and gentlemen that’s not improvement…

  3. Bola pa Zed Bali Fulamina. . Even Togo can go to the world cup. SA were our whipping boys. Very soon Malawi will go.
    Let us release Gabon report maybe iminyama kuti shapwa!!

  4. it true try wedson nyirenda.Mutapa is just overated the best for him is to be assistant to wedson.Lets lean to call a spade a spade and not a big spoon.

  5. You zambian foreigners can say what you like about zambian football. Us real zambians are patient that one day we will be soccer greats again

  6. we improve when we lose. twalipwa zoona. Ichienga maybe or isolo coz football has absolutely no returns, no honour, no……..

  7. The worst ever junior team in Zambia’s history
    The worst under 20 coach ever, even failing to reach semis of cosafa

    Football made luapula can always make sense

  8. Ireported yesterday that the rains have blown the roofs in chifuwu, pamodzi and nkwazi overspill but what we hear is the report for mpongwe that the houses have been blown by the rain is mpongwe the only place atasaye.

  9. Mwe bantu pilizi. These boyz were promised chocolates if they gave South Africans full points. I would also have done the same baba.

  10. I saw the boyz in training and their strategy was not to lose by more than two goals. They played according to instructions and you pipo are busy complaining.

  11. Ba Lamborgini Diablo, Just admit skillllll palibe, coachhhhh, palibe
    moneyyyyy palibe, brainsssss palibe. Womanising ilipo, beer drinkingggg ilipo, night life ilipo.

    so what do you expect?

  12. They are also comedians including the coach. These chaps. Can someone please ferry Nkana surporters to S/Africa so that they sort out these comedians.

  13. Football mu Zed attracts ifikopo. I bet none of the players can be accepted at any college in zed.
    Tu ma players forget all the instructions in the dressing room. They panic and we, Zambia, get beaten.

  14. I hear they played bare footed and wearing primary school uniforms in the first half. Power Dynamos took some jerseys and boots which they used in the second half and that’s how the game improved but it was too late. Ah! Weldone Power but why draw against Rangers?

  15. IT WAS EXPECTED. KALUSHA IS A CHANCER, I ONCE COMMENTED THAT HE WANTS TO USE FAZ TO GET TO CAF.IT HAS COME TO PASS. NOW, THOUGH HE BOASTS THAT HE HAS CONNECTIONS, HE HAS FAILED TO USE THEM TO IMPROVE THE GAME.ZED PLAYERS PLAY IN KANGAROO LEAGUES. ALL KALU WANTS ARE PERSONAL BENEFITS. PLAYERS ALSO ARE NOT PATRIOTIC & LACK SERIOUSNESS, DEMOCRATICALLY I REFUSE ALSO TO SUPPORT THEM. THEY HAVE NO AMBITIONS ON THEIR OWN TO SUCCEED

  16. Voting opens for African player award

    The five candidates for the 2008 BBC African Footballer of the Year award have been revealed on the BBC’s African sports programme Fast Track.

    The nominees are: Mohamed Aboutrika, Emmanuel Adebayor, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o and Amr Zaki.

    This shows the level of our game, suprisingly & amazingly we hope to go to WorldCup 2010. Our soccer sucks….Kalu, Munaile Out!!

  17. Ba Zambia, I concur with #30. Two of the contenders for the awards mentioned play for Egypt and you have a rickety team full of timid defenders. You wont come to South Africa 2010. It’s not possible even South Africa would not have been there save for being the host.The game in Africa has assumed a superior level for COSAFA contenders to match the rest of African teams.Just eat Chibwabwa ne ntoyo at home….. So never, never and never ever again think you can qualify for 2010.

  18. SA 2010 is a pipe dream even the couch himself has admitted so.We should just become giant Killers like some FAPL teams,beat Egypt away and draw all our home games.

  19. how is the situation? are there chances that when they win the next match will proceed or is it a formality? Twebeniko fwebatemwa bola before we start fainting on these useless but upcoming chaps…

  20. how is the situation? are there chances that when they win the next match will proceed or is it a formality? Twebeniko fwebatemwa bola before we start fainting on these useless but upcoming chaps…

  21. Its not difficult to tell just by reading this that we a truly Zambian… so patriotically unpatriotic! imandola1 #24 mwela onse

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