Ten-man Zambia ended their World Cup jinx against Algeria on Saturday when they beat The Fennecs 3-1 at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
Algeria had won all four previous World Cup qualifying encounters at home and away against dating back to1985.
It was also Zambia’s first competitive win over Algeria since they beat the North Africans 3-2 for bronze at the 1982 African Cup in Libya.
Coach Wedson Nyirenda described the winas cricital inthe 2018FIFA World Cup Group B qualifying race.
“It was not an easy game for us it was a big challenge for us but all in all our main was to get the 3 points which we have achieved sonthat we stay in the race,” Nyirenda said.
A brace from Brian Mwila in the 6th and 32nd minute put Zambia 2-0 in the break.
But Yacine Brahimi cut that lead in the 52nd minute with a breathtaking volley to beat Kennedy Mweene.
Three minutes later Zambia suffered a setback when Fashion Sakala was sent off for a second booking.
But Zambia’s nerves were calmed in the 88th minute when Enock Mwepu fired in a,low shot after coming on as a 56th minute substitute for Chisamba Lungu.
Zambia rise to 4 points and are now 2nd in Group B and five points behind leaders Nigeria.
Algeria Stay rooted to the bottom of Group B on1 point,one point behind 3rd placed Cameroon who lost 4-0 away to Nigeria.
Zambia face Algeria on Tuesday away in Constantine hoping to maintain 2nd place ahead of their October 7 away date against Nigeria.
WELDONE ZAMBIA….
THIS THE BEST ZAMBIA XI I’VE SEEN IN RECENT TIMES. WELL DONE CHIPOLOPOLO!!!
PROPOSED CHANGES:
1. SUNZU IS TOO SLOW, RUSTY AND MUST BE REPLACED URGENTLY
2. THE OTHER CENTRAL DEFENDER ALONGSIDE SUNZU MUST ALSO GO IMMEDIATELY
3. MWEENE’S TIMES ARE OVER – VERY SLOW OR NO REFLEXES AT ALL; HE WAITS FOR THE BALL TO EITHER GET INTO HIS NET, OR GO INTO TOUCH SO THAT HE STARTS BLAMING HIS TEAMMATES. A GOALKEEPR MUST FIRST DO ALL HIS BEST TO CATCH BALL, THEN HE CAN BLAME OTHER AFTERWARDS!!!!.
Congratulation to the boys. Well done
i saw it coming
Ubufi mambala iwe.
Well done lads and God Bless You. May you continue lifting our flag high. God Bless Zambia!
But Beston must take the charge of this team. Algeria could have made it 2-2 easily.
Beston Chikopo naimwe Italy game is still fresh in our minds and Nyirenda shud talk to that selfish Augustine Mulenga who’s after personal glory
Well done to the lads.Wada needs to find a formidable partnership for central Defence.That is where our weakness is.Sunzu and Ziyo play the same type of football as swipers ,which leaves no one to do the dirty work of hard tackling and closing in. Alternatively he could make do with a holding midfielder with qualities of Ngolo Kante if he wants to maintain the two.Bravo to Mwepu and Fashion needs to be helped in order for him to be a complete all round player he is destined to be.We pray that we win all the remaining games to stand a chance of qualifying as Nigeria have opened a big Gap as we all know.All things are possible to they that believe.It is well
Comment: I believe people will understand the reason i said we need fresh legs… putting under twenty players ave winning spirit.
A formality game more or less. One more win for Nigeria and we have no more dust. Good luck as we look forward to 2022
Comment: congrats to boys we surely deserve it!
THE GAME justifIed WADA EXIT, HOW ON EARTH you beat Algeria 3-1 at home
Nigeria will qualify for World Cup tomorrow in Yaoundé. They know how to get things done. They have taken the game serious right from the onset and I don’t see Zambia dethroning them.
Let the strongest team go Russia 2018.
African teams being the weaping boys at World Cup should be a thing of the past .
So far well done Nigeria and good luck to Zambia.
Nigeria will fall in Yaoundé and Constantine in Lagos Zambia will be on 10 points and Nigeria on 9 we’l only need a draw watch the space
A well deserved victory. However, the coaching bench should have acted quickly immediately Fashion Sakala got the first yellow card for unnecessarily arguing with the ref. It was clear the boy could not control himself emotionally. Therefore, it was a matter of time before he saw red. Shonga should have been brought in after Sakala’s first yellow card instead of risking losing one man in such an important match by continuing to play him.
Why did FAZ act so late to bring in the Under 20 Boys? And why do they maintain this sham of a coach called Wada? He has no clue about modern soccer coaching. Yesterday he rode on the Back of Beston and his Under 20 magnificent team. FAZ should fire that guy and make Beston the Head Coach. They should support Beston by providing him a strong technical bench. That is my point and I am sticking to it.
Well done boys