The Zambia U23 national team today take on Ivory Coast in what is their hardest hurdle in the qualifiers for the CAF U23 Championship to be played in Senegal.
The Fighton Simukonda coached made a trip to West in March they pulled a famous goalless draw against Nigeria only to be undone at home by the Samson Siasia coached side which saw the young Chipolopolo fail to advance in the All Africa Games qualifiers (AAG).
The team will this time again be hoping to get a result away from home and rectify the mistakes made against Nigeria.
Ivory Coast are only entering the race in the third and their last game was in the qualifiers for the AAGs when they were held to a goalless draw at home by Burkina Faso to lose 2 – 1 on aggregate.
Patson Daka and Patrick Ngoma were the last players to join the squad. They arrived on Friday from France.
FAZ President Kalusha Bwalya has also arrived in Abidjan ahead of kickoff at 1700hrs today.
In November- 2007, the two teams met in the second leg of the Olympic qualifiers and Ivory Coast were victors in Abidjan and qualified to the Onlympics. Zambia were being coached by Peter Kaumba then who decided drop Clifford Mulenga and Rainford Kalaba stating that they were already part of the senior team.
The winners at this stage will qualify for the final tournament of the African U-23 Championship scheduled for 28 November to 12 December in Senegal, where the top three teams will represent Africa at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and the fourth placed team facing an Asian side in a playoff.
Probable starting line-up:
Toaster Nsabata, Benedict Chepeshi, Boyd Mkandawire, Kayawe Kapota, Benson Sakala – Jack Chirwa, Salulani Phiri, Shadreck Malambo, Mukuka Mulenga, Ronald Kampamba, Moses Phiri
Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Toaster Nsabata (Zanaco), Kenny Mumba (Red Arrows)
Defenders: Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows), Boyd Mkandawire (Napsa Stars), Kayawe Kapota (Nkana), Benson Sakala (Unattached), Benard Mapili (Zesco United)
Midfielders: Jack Chirwa (Green Buffaloes), Shadreck Malambo (Red Arrows), Kelvin Mubanaga (Power Dynamos), Mukuka Mulenga (Bloemfontein Celtic), Bruce Musakanya (Red Arrows), Salulani Phiri (Zanaco)
Strikers: Moses Phiri (Zanaco), Patson Daka (Nchanga Rangers), Patrick Ngoma (Red Arrows), Friday Samu (Green Buffaloes), Ronald Kampamba (Wadi Degla)
is game live on znbc
I’d prefer the coach plays a cautious 4-5-1 formation. In goal captain Nsabata is a sure starter. At the right back and left back, Chepeshi and Boyd respectively are sure starters.Central defence Kayawe and Benson Sakala should have a nod with no competition. In midfield we need to have two defensive midfielders in vice captain Salulani Phiri and Jack Chirwa just in front of the defence. Mukuka Mulenga and Bruce Musakanya will give any defence headache. We then should play Moses Phiri just behind our lone and clinical Kampamba. Trust me, Ivory coast would kiss the dust as put three points in the bag. Go Chipolopolo.
@Martinez, that is a sensational line-up you put up man.
1 2 testing
Good analysis ba Martinez,how I wish bena Fighton and his technical boss Kalu reads your comment.a point from Abidjan will put us on the safe side that is if we learned something against Nigeria.
i agree with martinez, we shuld not play an open game becoz they wil want 2 corect 3 points at their home ground & we shuld not allow them, we are going 2 finish de job at home.
I hope I can watch this game on internet! I managed to RTI, ivory coast tv two days ago.
z it showing?
Go Zambia for an outright but cautious win. Shalom
Game in Ivory Coast is 0-0 after 32 mins
CAF U23 QUALIFIER
30′ Ivory Coast 0-0 Zambia.
@ Billy I’ve been trying to post score updates here but Zamfoot keeps moderating my comments so I gave up. Please continue providing the service bro.
MTN FAZ SUPER LEAGUE RESULTS FOR WEEK 16
Saturday July 18
Power Dynamos 1- 0 Zanaco
Konkola Blades 0 – 1 Mufulira Wanderers
Green Eagles 3 – 0 Lusaka Dynamos
Nkwazi 2 – 0 Nakambala Leopards
National Assembly 0 – 2 NAPSA Stars
Half time in Ivory Coast. Still 0-0
If we can keep a clean sheet in Ivory Coast we will have done a good job.
CAF U23 QUALIFIER
Half Time in Abidjan
Ivory Coast 0-0 Zambia.
zamfoot pliz give us live updates dont make de site boring we are playing a crucial game
Ten minutes played in the 2nd half – scoreless
Just about 20 mins to go in Ivory Coast. No scores yet. A zambian player has been shown a red card. Not sure who. We must not concede
CAF U23 QUALIFIER
65′
Malambo out for Salulani Phiri.
Ronald Kampamba out for Benard Mapili.
Boyd Mkandawire red carded.
Ivory Coast 0-0 Zambia.
The red card may cost us!
CAF U23 QUALIFIER
75′ Ivory Coast U23 0 – 0 Zambia U-23
Zambia down to ten men following a red card to Boyd Mkandawire in 64th minute.
Red card or nothing the boys must hold their own and if opportunity comes their way must break to score. Bunch for punch young Chipolopolo. Shalom
Punch for punch … I meant to say … viva Young Chipolopolo. Shalom
Still 0-0 at in extra time
Full time: Ivory Coast 0 Zambia 0. Job done. Well done
CAF U23 QUALIFIER
Full Time: Ivory Coast 0 – 0 Zambia
To hold Ivory Coast away with ten men for nearly half an hour and keeping a clean sheet is massive.
@Paddy, Thats true man. It’s not easy indeed. But I hope they won’t repeat as they did against Nigeria for the return leg.
Good results though from the Boys. Hope they go far in the tournament.
That’s very true. I really hope the Nigeria nightmare doesn’t come back to haunt us. Eye on the ball.
Yes!
The first half has been played, we await second half here in Zambia. Hope not to be disappointed like we were in the Nigeria game at Heroes
Well done Chipolopolo Juniors. There is hope. We love you Zambia. God bless you with more better performance.
Well done boyz but let’s work on scoring in the return game
Let us hummer them here!
Hope FAZ will have the match at Heroes Station, than taking the match at Nkoloma. This is too big a match for Nkoloma Stadium. But Heroes again has a challenge of playing fees and also we have already broken the record of loosing at this new stadium…
congraculations 2 young chipolopolo, but we need 2 win at home,
congraculations 2 young chipolopolo, but we need a win at home,
The return game should be at levy Mwanawasa in Ndola
Congrats boys and let’s wire them here…
Fighton Simukonda Knows How 2 Play Away Games, I Can Remeber Him In 2009 Caf Champions Ligue When He Was At Zesco.
let the match be played at the heroes stadium we are winning this time around
bravo to both the lads and the technical bench for this achievement.But do not rest as there is the second leg to be played in a fort night time and donot let the Nigeria debacle come to haunt us.
This Time We Need A Revenge, Coz They Knockd Us In 2008 Beinjing Olympique. Come Back Guyz & Prepare 4 A Second Leg, We Are Going 2 Finish Them Here In Zambia. Go!!! Zambia Go!!!
Sir Abram agreed with you. Zambia must beat our Ivory Coast friends. Shalom
Coach Fighton Simukonda packed the bus in CIV. Great stuff! And great work by the lads.