CHAN 2021: Sautu scores late as Guinea hold Zambia

CHAN 2021 Group D Match Day 2: Zambia 1 – 1 Guinea (Spencer Sautu 87′ | Victor Kantabadouna 57′)

Spencer Sautu came off the bench to score a late equalizer that helped the Zambia national team draw 1 – 1 with Guinea in their second match of the CHAN 2021 competition.

It was an evenly contested affair with Zambia creating more chances but guilty of missing in front of goal which saw them pay heavily with two points dropped.

Chipolopolo coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević made two changes to the team that beat Tanzania 2 – 0 in the opening match bringing in skipper Adrian Chama for Benedict Chepeshi and Amity Shamenda for Golden Mafwenta as he went for a more expansive 4 3 3 formation.

Despite Guinea enjoying lots of possession in the opening half, Zambia looked comfortable and were more threatening in attack. Chabula was through on goal in the opening five minutes and the keeper spilled the ball in his path but they were fortunate the Lusaka Dynamos striker had lost his bearings and did not see where the ball was for the defender to clear.

Kelvin Mubanga Kapamba also saw his in-swinging effort from a freekick saved by the goalie in a last ditch dive with Guinea’s only chance in the half coming when they crossed from their right with the striker having a point blank shot on goal which was brilliantly saved by Allan Chibwe in the Zambia goal.

Micho made a change at half time bringing in Sautu for Amity Shamenda and Zambia seemed to start the half well. A through ball to the left in the 56th minute was picked by over-lapping Zechariah Chilongoshi who charged into the box but he pulled his shot wide when it looked easier to score.

That miss would prove costly as the next phase of play saw Guinea attack through their left with the recycled ball falling for Victor Kantabadouna who acrobatically finished from near the penalty spot beating Chibwe in the 57th minute.

Micho reacted positively by introducing Moses Phiri for the ineffective Kapamba and sacrificing defender Clement Mwape for Bruce Musakanya.

The chances were coming Zambia’s way but Phiri shot over the bar from inside the box in the 78th minute before Chabula failed to trouble the keeper with a free header in the 79th minute.

Sautu who was now filling in at right full back took his chance in the 87th minute when he rose high to guide home a Chilongoshi cross for the equalizer.

The result sees both Zambia and Guinea move to four points with Guinea leading the group on goal difference. Namibia and Tanzania who both lost their opening games play in the late kick off.

Zambia’s next game will be the late kick off on Wednesday 27th January, 2021.