On Thursday, Chipolopolo Boys coach George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina named a his final 23 man squad that will face Congo in back to back African Cup of Nations qualifiers within a space of five days.
The ZamFoot Crew takes a look at how the strikers at Lwandamina’s disposal will line up and the form guide.
Form Guide:
Conlyde Luchanga (Lusaka Dynamos) – He has played one league for Lusaka Dynamos in the opening fixture in addition to the Charity Shield games he played for Power Dynamos.
He is one for the future and won’t be starting any of the games against Congo.
Chris Katongo (Green Buffaloes) – The legendary captain has a point to prove and that what is driving him. He has played three games this season and yet to to score for his club.
On the international scene, he was Zambia’s standout player at the CHAN tournament and subsequently named in the final 23 of the tournament.
Evans Kangwa (Hapoel Ranaana, Israel) – 10 goals and third top scorer in the Israel top flight. If he can transfer his club form to the international scene, then Zambia can dream of another goal poacher.
Winstone Kalengo – (AC Leopards. Congo) – In just 10 weeks in Congo, Kwimba has scored an incredible 10 goals to lead the goal scoring charts in Congo.
Collins Mbesuma (Mpumalanga Black Aces, RSA) – Leading the ABSA Premiership goal scoring charts with 13 goals. It’s been a decade since he scored 25 goals for Kaizer Chiefs.
Lwandamina’s selection problem
The combination of Mbesuma and Kalengo was key last year as Zambia beat Kenya and Sudan. While at Black Aces, Mbesuma is the box striker as no.9, under Lwandamina, the burly striker has been played behind Kalengo in the hole.
Mbesuma hasn’t really operated as a playmaker but has done something similar to  that role.  With Kalengo now playing in Congo and if there will be player who will be given a standing ovation in Pointe Noire, then it has to be ‘Ntonfontonfo’ after that hatrick a decade ago.
Therefore, Lwandamina is likely to go with combination of Mbesuma and Kalengo but there’s also the temptation of accommodating Chris Katongo in that attack.
Lwandamina’s 2015 front 4
__________________Kalengo___________________
Kalaba____________Mbesuma___________*Chisamba/Lubambo
___________Two Holding Midfielders______________
*Chisamba ruled out injured.
With Rainford Kalaba likely to start on the left wing, there’s a hint that either Lubambo Musonda or Clatus Chota Chama will have to pave way for Katongo to start.
Should Chris start then Kalengo might go wide while Mbesuma pushed on no.9 with Katongo behind him.
Zambia v Congo
___________________9.Mbesuma_____________
11.Kalaba____________10.C.Katongo__________7. Kalengo
_______________Two Holding Midfielders_____
Kalengo has played on the wing before but mostly on the left. The other option to have Chris Katongo on the right wing and push back Kalengo as the box striker with Mbesuma behind him.
How would you want the front four to line up against Congo on Wednesday? Have Your Say
GO ZAMBIA GO
Why waste 2 holding midfielders?
Use Kalaba and Cleatus in Midfield.
Mbesuma
Kalengo – Kangwa – Chris
Kalaba – Cleatus
Nkausu – Stopila – Adrian – Kabaso
J.Banda
There we go, that’s my Zambia, I would rest Chris and go for Kangwa the rest remain the same
Keep Kalengo where he is the most lethal. Chris is a “newcomer” and must embrace the wing.
the other option is just to have a totally different formation from the one above
As for I wound like the coach to use katongo as an impact player,kalengo and mbesuma should lead the line supported by lubambo musonda
To those as curious as I. Just took a close look at Congo’s statistics and players
GAMES: Congo have only lost one game vs Cameroon in their last 5 games
PLAYERS: Congo has a total number of 16 pros. 15 playing in Europe (including their keeper) and 1 playing in Morocco
I am not implying that having players in Europe means you have quality, not all the time but at times.
My impression is that Congo will not hand Zambia 3 free points on a silver plate. Zambia needs to be very careful and not use the famous 3-2 away win as a pillow. If Zambia will relax then expect a rude shock. I have a feeling our players are underrating Congo, but look at the first game that we drew at home
This is my opinion
9. Kalengo 10. Mbesuma 7. Chris 11. Kalaba plus two holding midfielders. The top 2 strikers can interchange positions as well as the 2 wingers. Otherwise we don’t need mayuka @ da moment. These gentlemen r hungry for goals not mayuka with his harry milanzi type of yabaa, sh***t, iyeee misses.#will leave it rite here
Let the coach play with one holding midfielder in Sinkala. Rainford and Chris should grace the wings while Lubambo Musonda or Clatous Chota Chama take up the free role in the middle. Upfront we can work with Kalengoal and Mbesuma. I feel Isaac and Kangwa can come in as second half subs. I miss Kelvin Mubanga from Power Dynamos in this setup.
There is one thing I like abt evans kangwa. He z quick on the ball.
WAT TIME DD DS GAM START ON WEDNESDAY
game kicks off at 18hrs sharp…. with this loadshedding awe sure!
18:00hrs
Let’s zambia let’s go we r bhind u.
The problem of using two holding midfielders will be to see in inform Chansa or unreliable Chirwa partner Nathan. Better be offensive in first half and score before talking of two defensive midfielders.
With Mbesuma and Kalengo upfront, I prefer Kalaba…..Katongo…..Lubambo.
Second half replace Chris n Lubambo with Chansa and Kangwa. Luchanga can come in late for either Mbesuma or Kalengo.
make it the barca kind of attack
kalengo, mbesuma and kangwa
midfield
kalaba, sinkala, clatus chama
wing defense
not sure
central defense
sunzu and muntali
chirwa likula!!takalipapo
let us use mweene 1, kalengo 9 ,MBESUMA 10, kalaba 11 ,lubambo 7, midfielder two holding midfiekders sinkala and chirwa or any ,nkausu 2, that guy from baffalo 3 kampamba, sunzu5, mfune 4. super sub ckatongo, KANGWA second half 50th minute. chansa . choongo too much fake injuries. etc.
Ok na pa kaba data sana.
Rest Chris for Musonda and use one holding player that’s Sikala when we score atleast a goal introduce two holding players. At home we go 4 attack football then we shuld introduce inform EVans not Luchenga who has just played one game this season and If the coach mess up I’ll be sack we have a new Man in FAZ
Mbesuma 13 Kalegoal 10 Evan 10 (33 goals between them) our attacking force very good players use them please ba coach with Musonda and Kalaba supporting then Sikala should protect them we want goals rest ba Chris na Chansa