Zambia are slowly earning themselves the tag as the inaugural Caf Africa Nations Championship s (CHAN) comeback kings after they beat Botswana 3-0 at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka in their 1st round return, leg match.
The result sees Zambia progress 3-1 on aggregate to the final 3rd round qualifiers on November 28 against either Angola of Mozambique.
However the result was a means to an objective as Zambia stuttered after taking a questionable 1-0 lead into the break.
Roger Kola just poked the ball across the line in the 6th minute after a massive goalmouth mayhem that saw goalkeeper Noah Maposa seriously injured and replaced by Raphael Ntwane.
The game was stopped for 12 minutes after Botswana’s medics tried but failed to mend The Zebras first-choice minder.
From then on Zambia struggled with Zesco United midfielder Rainford Kalaba the only consistent player for the hosts.
Botswana meanwhile troubled Zambia throughout with their neat slick passing led by the outstanding Township Rollers winger and man of the match Joel Mogorosi.
Against the run of play in the 28th minute, Emmanuel Mayuka saw his goal disallowed for off-side in Zambia’s brightest spec after their first goal in the first half.
The football gods must surely be great supporters of Chipolopolo because had it not been for some poor finishing by Botswana, Zambia would have been sent packing and Sundays headlines on the back pages reading differently.
However, Zambia came to life in the 70th minute when Power Dynamos midfielder Kennedy Mudenda replaced Green Buffaloes striker Reuben Tembo.
It was from his cross on 80 minutes that Mayuka blasted in a sweet scissors-kick to atone an erratic show from the teenage striker.
Kalaba then put the result beyond doubt with a breathtaking but difficult shot from the near post that breezed between the hands of the Ntwane.
It was the second time in the competition that Zambia came from a jam in the first leg to progress.
In late March, they drew 1-1 away to Swaziland in the preliminary round 1st leg to progress 4-1 after winning 3-0 at Woodlands in the final leg.
Kola and Mayuka were on target in the return leg and are now both on 2 goals in the CHAN qualifiers and in line for top scorer’s honors in the qualifiers.
Bravo boys
good boys
Yah! But proper stadia must be built. Woodlands stadium is by far worse than a concentration camp in structure. I wonder which architect designed it and what he was thinking by the time?
GK FROM MONZE
Mwabeleka basankwa.
Biggest worry is why we are continuously struggling against teams like Botswana. What should we expect against formidable opponents like West African and North African teams?
Good result guys. Keep up the hard work
kola………….is my man
ya we can win against amateur teams like bots , swazi etc, but when we meet teams like elephants, lions, hawks etc, lets also show what we can do, you win by beating the best in africa…. thats life…these are small teams….work up guys….we suppose to beat cameroun, egypt..cot something,.etc. ok. Good luck!
It was good to get the result, but I agree with the above regarding it being an overall struggle. It is teams like Botswana and Swaziland that should be warm-up matches for the big teams, putting such pressure on the squad so early on is only going to wear down the squad in the long run.
RENARD must have have seen the challenge that lies in front of his eyes.The boys lost possession of the ball easily.They made alot of stray passes,trapping was poor and the hold/grip on the ball was also poor.They also looked physically infit.Little wonder RENARD is here.Only William Chinyama looked like a footballer.
The sky is the limit, lets go, fight and conquer. Lets go boys, Bravo and welldone.
WELL DONE BOYZ AND PLEASE KEEP THE FLAME BURNING.
I work in Botswana.I have watched both matches.Guys, the truth is Botswana has improved a lot .We have to face it….Zambia is not getting better.We won yes,but the football was amateurish,to say the least.We have to really work hard if we have to go past West African and Arab teams.
in the words of one great liwewe, let us wait and see!!!!!!!!!
#3 A good modern stadium is ideal for both players and supporters psychologically. Our headstrong leadership seems not to realise this. It is pathetic. Remember how fired up were the players and supporters at Arthur Davis stadium when its turf was called “carpet?”
Well done Zambia.
The great winners never start with big teams….
But they build their stamina and confidence in style from lower ranks. WIN THEM ALL SMALL AND BIG!!
jUST GO FO GOALS Always.
Keep those dreams alive!!!
good win.
#14 understand football, sometimes u play nicely and lose, Zambia has played good soccer and lost, so now it is our turn, no mtter how we play we win chapwa, pleasing the crowd cha li pwa mune, whta matters is ma results bane, great job boys and congrats, we are on the right path chapwa
#14 understand football, sometimes u play nicely and lose, Zambia has played good soccer and lost, so now it is our turn, no matter so long we win chapwa, pleasing the crowd cha li pwa mune, what matters is ama results bane, great job boys and congrats, we are on the right path chapwa
KATONGO distroyes FCK. Chris, Chris, Chris, all over the GOLDEN BOY of Zambian football has done nafuti this time Vs BIG FC Copenhagen, Chris was match winner 2-1 ti BIF,BIF,BIF……………………..alya umu maiche
Brøndby IF fik hurtigt rystet skuffelsen af sig, og FC København virkede ikke som om, de havde lyst til at fortsætte presset. Derfor fik Martin Retov og co. igen overtaget på midtbanen, og i 67. minut blev Chris Katongo belønnet for sit arbejde i front. Et fantastisk opspil helt nede fra forsvaret gik via Martin Ericsson til Kasper Lorentzen, som spillede Chris Katongo alene igennem med Jesper Christiansen. Katongo afsluttede køligt gennem benene på FC København-keeperen, og så var Brøndby igen på sejrskurs.
between the legs of the FCK keeper
Olilo
I’m still not convinced that these boys will go anywhere. Nibakaponya chabe …..
Justice who is benefitting from your Danish? we want to know what you are talking about, kaya kapena mukamba mweka.
Zambia will probably not got to the world cup, but the best we can start doing is to build a big strong squad. We should also send players to proper clubs in europe and notSudan, Zim, Angola etc. You dont expect to beat the likes of Nigeria, Cameroon etc whose teams play competitive footy in Europe. I am afraid my verdict is that not worldcup otherwise we embarrasse ourselves.
It is off-topic, but Justice posted that Christopher Katongo scored the winner for Brondby today in the 67th minute. He has been on-fire since the Danish league returned from the winter break.
Justice CH’KALA # 21 – 24, walipena. What are you talking about. Ulebaila bwino mwaiche.
What a goal by Mayuka, that was special, definitely the future of Zambian football
Good job Zambia. Nkuyuma yuma basankwa.
Good job, the introduction of Kennedy Mudenda changed things, at some point I thought Kaumba wanted to substitute Rainford but he was given public disapproval, after the match he denied that, but Kennedy is a good player.
Congratulations to the Boys they got the result thats what mattered.I only watched the first game played in Botswana on Btv.I can’t comment on Saturdays game cos i didn’t watch the game.
Ba Justice, ngati simu ziba any zambian language you can use on this site then better you dont contribute coz Mungaziti Tukwana ka!
Viva Local Zambiana Viva!!!
it was interestin 2 c our new coach in chez ntemba on friday nite! i think the boys wil have a wonderful time with him he is so out goin. yesterday he was @ rhapsodys again. i think he has a cool refreshin atmosphere which is good. u know wat i mean, PLAY HARD WORK HARD. Zambia will never set foot @ the world cup, not in the next 50 yrs! i bet my soul. we gota learn 2b serious
It will always be the same ‘OLD STORY” again. Do you have a good coach? Do you have good players. One question you shud ask yoselves is look at those teams that have won the Africa cup and have been to the WC. The calibre of the coach and the players. Compare that with what we have. What we have is COSAFA material. And it will continue to be.
Congratulations to the team, now the real work starts. All eyes on Togo, all eyes on the ball! Dig deep, Don’t worry about anyone but about doing yourself justice.
Tukamona
Apologies but was just too excited with Chris, for it was a big game between Denmarks biggest Clubs and for him to score the winner was fantastic. I do not care about your insults it is OK for me
I know who are contributing sensibly on this blog and those who do not know what to say and that is the way it is. I will never insult anyone. I did not post anything negative at all.
how can Botswana trouble a team like Zambia? Boys improve hard at least teams like Botswana should be a workover