Despite playing on a second rate pitch Zambia defeated Sudan at Karima Stadium and will take 1 – 0 advantage into the second round, second leg of the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualification match scheduled for Ndola on November 15.
Kalengo handed advantage to the Chipolopolo against the run of play, firing the ball into an empty net when the ball fell kindly in his path after being sandwiched by Sudan goalkeeper Akram El Hadi and defender Ramadan Agab who both missed the ball inside the area.
The Sudanese players protested the goal claiming infringement but the referee gave the goal because El Hadi had collided with his defender Agab with no contact from Kalengo. Sudan captain Masawi was also behind to defend but Kalengo was too quick for him.
Sudan dominated possession in the first half with direct, long balls being played up and down a patchy and dusty surface but switched to short passes following the goal.
Sudan were quick off the mark in the second half as they pressed for an equaliser and almost got it when Bakri found space and got his shot on target only for Mweene to save brilliantly.
The condition of the pitch did not make it easy for Zambia and there were some heavy challenges with Kabaso Chongo bearing the brunt. Coach Lwandamina was forced to withdraw Chongo for Donashano Malama ten minutes after the restart.
The condition of the pitch meant that Zambia played long defensive balls. Buchizya Mfune, Nathan Sinkala and Paul Katema were shown yellow cards for Zambia while it was Faris Abdullah who received a yellow card for the hosts.
Rainford Kalaba was replaced by Spencer Sautu with eight minutes remaining on the clock.
Kalengo almost scored a second goal in the 88th minute but he fired his effort wide of target when scoring seemed easier.
The second leg is scheduled for Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Sunday, November 15.
The winner of this tie will progress to the third round where 20 teams will be divided into five groups of four teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches.
Ba fi—a if you dont qualify to the next World Cup Galu and Paya Farmer will follow you! That was a lucklustre near disaster which would have had you doing mathematics again! Pull up your socks for Gods sake!
I watched the game. In fact, I kept on switching between National Geographic and Super Sport.. The match was very boring. The pitch was terrible!! Well, you know what they say, a good musician never blames his instruments…
The Zambian side was also very terrible, the boys don’t have ball control, no proper attacking strategy, no systematic defense, etc. Why dont we get a really quality international coach, really? Is there anything that we Zambians do right? Even the name “Zambia” is listed second last on countries list on the alphabet! This is sad. Everything is politics in Zambia!! Whats wrong with us, really?
Ok on sunday you will play on a proper pitch so lets show them what we are made of….DRC exposed our weakness so let patch those up and get the ball quicker to Katengo…Mbesuma has really transformed
Rainford Kalaba was replaced by Spencer Sautu with eight minutes remaining on the clock.
Rainford should train hard as a striker especially on shooting at the goal his shoots usually go over the bar or end up hiting the woodwork .i watched all the games T.P Mazembe played recently,he is at times warming the bench or being substituted that should tell him something.
What matters is that we won. I watched the game and I know we did not play very well, may be because of the poor playing field. However, let us beat Sudan on Sunday by a big margin. Go boys, go!
Is that ground for a primary school or what? Come on Africa, we can build better stadia than that! The pitch was really pathetic. And our players why do they look so unkempt? What is happening to soccer administrators in Africa?