Group H has turned into an early tight race after Lesotho repelled Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday evening.
Lesotho put themselves back in contention on June 9 following a 0-0 home draw against two-time AFCON champions Cote d’Ivoire at Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Cote d’Ivoire came into the game as overwhelming favourites for the 3 points a week after a resounding 3-1 home win over Zambia in their Group H opener on June 3 in Yamoussoukro.
The result means it is all tight in Group H with a mere two points separating the three contenders for qualification.
Cote d’Ivoire, who have already qualified for AFCON as host, have 4 points that will go to the administrative process of classifying the lone side to qualify for Group H.
And so at the end of match day one, Zambia are second and in the driving seat on 3 points.
Comoros, whom Zambia beat 2-1 on June 7 in Lusaka, are second also on 3 points thanks to the 2-0 home win over Lesotho they posted on match-day-one on June 3.
Lesotho are a close third with a point and play Chipolopolo in September’s Group H doubleheaders starting away in Lusaka and at home in Johannesburg during the weekend of September 19-27.
Cote d’Ivoire will be home in the first leg against Comoros of their September doubleheader.
The lone Group H winner must either finish runners-up to Cote d’Ivoire or top the group to qualify for AFCON.
But the methodology does not apply to the other 11 groups that will see the top two finishers from each pool qualifying for 2023 AFCON.
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Chipolopolo to get back on the big stage..good luck lads.
Comoros Islands are on top of Zambia by virtue of them having a +1 goal difference having scored 3 goals and conceding 2 so far against Zambia’s -1 goal difference.
Pressure? How?
But uyu naye analysis, Do you watch Soccer ba guy or u just wanted to say something in order for your voice to be heard? You asking “Pressure how”? Ofcourse pressure on Zambia-who else? If Lesotho lost to Cote D voire, they wudnt have earned a point. And also the fact that they drew with a team that cleanly beat you pants down not more than a week ago. That should give you enough BP.
But uyu naye Jonathan Mutaware, Do you watch Soccer ba guy or u just wanted to say something in order for your voice to be heard? Lesotho drawing with Ivory Coast is not what puts pressure on Chipolopolo. They already are receiving pressure from Comoros who are ahead of them and have a pending home gamee Lesotho are two points behind the two and so far causing no pressure.
“If Lesotho lost to Cote D voire, they wudnt have earned a point.” Who doesnt know that? So what if they earn a point? And any soccer analyst would quickly trash your amateurish argument that Lesotho drawing with a team that whacked Chipolopolo would put pressure on us. Or even embarass us. It was their home game! Winning would have, not drawing. Right now Lesotho are at the bottom of the pile. See unlike you Iam…
See unlike you Iam not just a Chipolopolo fan but an intelligent soccer follower so I can sapulula things for the average fan not pretend to be an analyst with simplistic logic. So the writer of this story needs to explain where he derives his pressure conlusion from
How and Who? are two different questions.