Zambia face Lesotho at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in 2014 World Cup Group D qualifier at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday.
The match has an essential telling effect on Zambia’s Group D interest and probably the future of coach Herve Renard.
Under-fire Renard has kept a low media profile in the buildup to the game following attacks on him and the team following a 2-1 loss in a kick-about to Nkana on May 26 in Kitwe.
And a win for Ghana on Friday night away to Sudan in Khartoum will see the Black Stars replace Zambia at the top of Group D for at least 24 hours.
Meanwhile on match-day-three on March 24, Ghana were motivated to beat Sudan 4-0 in the first leg in Kumasi just hours after third placed Lesotho held Zambia to a 1-1 draw in Maseru.
How Zambia will respond in similar fashion on Saturday to a Black Stars away result tonight should give us an insight into the teams’ motivational temperament.
“The most important thing is we are playing at home, we are leading at home and we are expecting a lot of support,” assistant coach Patrice Beaumelle said.
“With this support I think will the 12th player and will help the players perform.”
Zambia have seven points, Ghana were second on six before their clash against bottom placed Sudan who have one point heading into match day four.
A win in Ndola where Zambia are unbeaten in over four decades will see Renard’s team stay top of Group D for another week ahead of their June 15 tie against Sudan at the same venue.
Meanwhile, Zambia has injury concerns ahead of the Lesotho clash with Rainford Kalaba out injured while Stopilla Sunzu is still recovering from a knee operation.
Zesco United midfielder Khondwani Mtonga is expected to make his competitive debut as Sunzu’s replacement in central defence while Power Dynamos midfielder Mukuka Mulenga is favourite in Kalaba’s absence.
I`m not raising my hopes to avoid being disappointed tomorrow. All the best ba Zambia.
mukuka mulenga will show his class.all the best ba zambia
Let’s just keep our fingurs closed until the last whistle
Iam keeping my hopes on Zambia very low lest I can collapse.
ALL THE BEST MOTHER ZAMBIA.
STRIKERS MUST TAKE EVERY CHANCE SERIOUSLY.
DEFENDERS MUST STOP BALL WATCHING.
THE GOAL LESOTHO SCORED, ZAMBIAN DEFENDERS WERE WATCHING.
THE CHAP HAD ENOUGH TIME TO READ THE GOALKEEPER.
Word of advice to the Zambian Football Team and players, PLEASE, PLEASE learn to SHARE the BALL, at times the boys are too greedy some players want to be the ones to score the winning goal, which is understandable,but if your chances of scoring are 40% and one of your team mates is free in space and has a 60% of hating the target and scoring a goal, it’s only wise to pass the ball to him,you’re all heroes, you’ve created an assist and you team mate has got a goal possibly a winning goal….. It’s called a football Team for A Very Good Reason, great teams are known to work hard together and for each other. Brilliant examples Barca, Bayern Munich, Man U, USA and SPAIN national team, lets try an learn from the best…… VIva Ba Zambia all the way to Brazil 2014 🙂
All the chipolopolo! even if Ghana slughters Sudan it ought not to be a threat but ruth of the matter is that we will make it to Brazil.
Tulewina Go Go Zambia Go u r tyt u guys.
What test? we just kick bu!ts 4 times to “0”. Lesotho has been riddled!