Thursday, March 28, 2024

Zambia avoid Morocco but stretched by Namibia

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Zambia drew 1-1 with Namibia on Monday night in Casablanca to finish top of Group B and avoid hosts Morocco in the 2018 CHAN quarterfinals.

Zambia and Namibia finished tied on 7 points but the latter have an inferior goal difference.

Chipolopolo head back to Marrakech where they will face Sudan in the quarterfinals on January 27 while Namibia stay in Casablanca to play Morocco on the same date.

Both goals came in the first half and it was a stubborn Namibia who took the lead in the 12th minute through Absalom Iimbondi whose free kick took a bounce before eluding Zambia goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata.

Zambia then battled against a fired-up Namibia and equalized in the 24th minute when Lazarus Kambole tapped in a cheeky ball after some hard work by Ernest Mbewe.

But it was Nsabata who was the busier goalkeeper for the remaining 76 minutes and Zambia were the happier side to hear the final whistle and get out of Casablanca to return to Marrakech to regroup for Saturday’s date against Sudan.

12 COMMENTS

    • People are more confused than the people they accuse of corruption. This story is about sport but alas, someone can’t see the difference.

  1. We have to go through them to get the trophy, regardless. Just like President Lungu to become president, he has to go through some impostor and chronic loser.

  2. Namibia is a stubborn team and Morocco will now be given a real challenge. If they overcome Namibia then I can see them storming the finals with ease

  3. When you are accustomed to high-octane football, watching these useless boys play is like watching madalas football. Very wasteful no wonder I fail to follow the local league. I wonder if I.Q. has anything to do with it. Non of these chipolopolo clowns can attract foreign interest.

  4. We can do better if we also use younger players.Namibia were faster and full of energy Let’s avoid using players aged 25and above. Tournament like CHAN fast and energetic lads.They will give us headache even in the Africa qualifier if we don’t change the stratage.

  5. Namibia seemed to be better team because Wedson Nyirenda failed to read the opponents game! Namibia’s game plan was to play close when attacking, and mark opponents in numbers, so they always seemed to be more red shirts in midfield and attack and always kept close, 3 to 4 players in a 9 square metre area, with only 1 to 2 Zambian players to stop them! To counter them Nyirenda should have instructed his players to avoided passing the ball while in midfield! So Zambia should have employed lone players running with ball though midfield, especially on the wings, and long balls from Zambia’s area to Namibia’s area! This could hsve usurped Namibia’s formation, and led to at least 3 more goals! A clever coach is like a clever commander at war front, must be strategic and change game plan…

  6. Age is not always a factor only at times! Look at Christiano Rinaldo still reaping medals at 32! What’s important is to mix talent, that’s what Nyirenda has done, there are players who are 22 others are 28 years old! That’s the nature of people they always want to have somebody to blame or mistakes to point out! Analyse the game before you point at age! Some are even going as far as being tribal champions! Let’s support Nyirenda in loss or victory! Its not only Zambia that wants to win, even other countries do! That’s the nature of competition, there can only be one winner!

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