Zambia play Cape Verde in the two sides second-ever international meeting looking to settle a score with The Blue Sharks before the two sides wrap-up their 2015 Africa Cup Group F qualifiers.
Both Zambia and Cape Verde have booked their last at next January’s finals in Equatorial Guinea after finishing second and first in Group F with one and two games to spare respectively.
However, Cape Verde hold an edge over Zambia in Group F after beating Chipolopolo 2-1 in the first leg meeting on September 10 in Praia.
Zambia assistant coach Kampamba Chintu said pride is at stake in this formality game and that they were hoping to extend their unbeaten home run in Group F after a draw and win in Ndola in the qualifiers.
Furthermore, Zambia are chasing a third successive Group F win following a 3-0 win in Ndola over Niger on October 15 and 1-0 away victory over Mozambique last Saturday that secured their 2015 finals spot.
“They (Cape Verde) are good side and they are playing good football and equally we have a very good team of a mixture of experienced and young players which is also gelling very well,”Chintu said.
“So I am sure it will be an interesting game we are obviously working hard to carry the day.”
Zambia have no injury worries with goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene and defender Christopher Munthali who were concerns in the Mozambique game given the all clear on Monday and have trained without incident since then.
On the suspension front, Mweene,Munthali, Nathan Sinkala, Donashano Malama and Nyambe Mulenga are one match away from missing Zambia’s 2015 Africa Cup opener carrying a card each.
Meanwhile, Cape Verde coach Rui Aguas’ 18-member team that arrived on Tuesday in Ndola comprises of eleven players who featured in the first leg win over Zambia.
Missing will be striker Ryan Mendes of French Ligue 1 club Lille who scored one goal against Zambia in the first leg.
Mendes is out for three weeks with a hamstring injury.
And Aguas said he was not taking the game as a grudge match but a mere formality.
“I will make some changes in the team because I have many players who also need to play,” Aguas said on Tuesday upon arrival in Ndola.
“We will try to get a win like Zambia of course. In the beginning we looked at Zambia as the most strongest team in the group and now again we will respect the team but try to win.”
Zambia having already qualified, this will be a good test to see how hungry they are to become winners… average teams wouldn’t fight for a win in this scenario.. lets seee… well done for the qualification, at least we shall watch this game with fewer nerves. My advise is to use younger potential players to prep them for the big event
???? good job boys enjoy the match
Make us proud boys!
I would rather the guys on yellow cards are not played today so that we don’t risk suspensions during the opening game at the finals.
This is a chance to try the other players in those positions…
By the way, I am sure the guys on yellow are ‘one card away’ and not ‘one match away’ from missing the opener…(Splitting hairs!)
chipolopolo we are behind you.
please bring back kondwani mtonga,he is experienced and mature than malama in crucial games
Go team chipolopolo,the entire nation z behind you guyz
We are behind the chipolopolo guys,but am so disappointed with the team,no fighting spirit,no pace, no good passing of the ball,no goal getters,no commitment towards the goal post,soccer is about goals,ball position etc,am happy one up against cape vede.but not good standard of playing,l think we should tap talent from all provinces not concentrating on premier league only, eg lusaka. Give those guys in deep rural province who plays soccer for the seek of loving soccer with no soccer boots,see how he will play when given the opportunity to play for the country.am worried in guinea.good luck Zambia we behind you 2015