https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjhSvQ3lYTs
Experienced midfielder Isaac Chansa scored a second half goal as Zambia kicked off the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) campaign with a 1-0 win over neighbours Zimbabwe in Rubavu on Tuesday afternoon.
Chansa connected a pass from creative midfielder Cletus Chama before beating Zimbabwe keeper Donovan Benard from close range after 58 minutes.
It was a game of two halves at Umuganda Stadium with Zimbabwe dominating the first half and Zambia taking over the show in the last half.
Ronald Chitiyo troubled the Zambia backline led by Buchizya Mfune and Stephen Kabamba in the early stages but Zimbabwe wasted first half chances.
The half-time break pep talk from Chipolopolo coach George Lwandamina seemed to have gone down well with the players showing signs of improvement.
Zambia came close to taking a lead in the 56th minute with Mwelwa Sakala sending his free kick slightly over the bar before Chansa scored two minutes later.
After scoring Zambia held on to beat their nemesis.
In this game, Lwandamina started with goalkeeper Jacob Banda with Mfune, Kabamba, Dauti Musekwa and Adrian Chama marshalling the back line.
Cletus Chama was deployed in the midfield alonside Chansa, Mwape Mwelwa, Jackson Chirwa and Christopher Katongo as the lone striker.
Meanwhile, this win is expected to motivate Zambia ahead of their next Group D match against Uganda on Saturday.
Uganda were scheduled to tackle Mali in the two sides opening match in Rubavu.
Well done guys
Very good start by our boys, but am worried that the gaol was scored by an old timer in a tournament where we should be grooming our new and younger players. my own observations:
1. not a very bad performance by the GK, for a start
2. this team plays a better passing and possession game than the senior one, but these are short passes that make them cluster in the area of action -leaving opens space that the opponent takes advantage of when we lose possession
3. Theres a weak guy on the back left, which is where Zim found a big hole
4. the right back was always being caught off position, he must keep his position
5. wingers upfront and midfielders are very good, but we need stronger and sharp guys at positions 8, 9 & 10
Sorry, I swapped left back and the right back in the posting above
The most impressive thing about this win is that it is our first win in our opening match at a continental completion at national level in recent times.
Keep the fire burning. One Zambia One Nation.
One zambia one what? Thats not true. Ask kambwili, chama, mumbi or chikwanda
Wonderful result and start. Keep the Chipolopolo fire burning
Congrats zambia for making it continue with the same spirits thanks
I ALWAYS GET VERY DISAPPOINTED BY ZAMBIA’S WINNING MARGIN OR STYLE. THEY DO NOT CONVINCINGLY WIN TOURNAMENTS. IT’S MOSTLY BY 1 GOAL AND THAT GOAL IS MOSTLY BY PENALTIES. SO, ONE CAN’T BATE ON ZAMBIA. YES! WINNING IS THE SAME WHETHER IT’S BY ONE GOAL OR 4. BUT, TEAMS LIKE ZIMBABWE, BOTSWANA, CONGO, TANZANIA, MALAWI, SURELY THE WINS SHOULD SHOW THAT IT WASN’T A STRUGGLE. HOW DO YOU WIN TOUGH SIDES SUCH AS GHANA, NIGERIA, CAMEROON, IVORY COST, ETC, IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING TO WIN WEAKER SIDES?
I think zimbabwe should be taken seriously its not even a called weak side the are mostly affected by weak economy.i think i can still see zimbabwe sailing through everthing is possible dont jydge a book by its cover guys.zambia must scratch on its noes because we can say its over whilst its not yet.
Good result but the One Zambia One Nation Spirit died in 1990 but worse in 2015 January on 20th. God help us but we need to help ourselves.
Let’s not discourage our teams, but yes, we seem to win rather erratically. Africa cup, then zilch to date. Come on you boys!M
Nowadays there no small teams especially at the tournament of this magnitude if teams like Libya the former champions and Ghana the runners up failed to qualify that tells you how strong the teams are in the competition.Above all playing neighbours is no easy task.
Yesterday’s match against Zimbabwe was a warm up. We will only be tested on Saturday when we play the Cranes of Uganda who so far have shown good quality and look organised. Ukuteya bola iyakudununa fye nokuipantawila tafyakabombe, unless the Coach rectifies the mistakes early enough before the next match…The boys should learn to put the ball on the ground and should improve on ball control and trapping and above all they seem to succumb to pressure when it comes to aerial balls, the Technical bench should look into that also. First match, a win and three points in the bag, that is great and we are keeping our fingers crossed for the next game. The earlier we qualify to the next round with a match to spare, the better.Go Zambia go…
Bring the CUP GENTS, Veterans on Duty