Group D comes alive again today in the Rwanda 2016 CHAN tournament with two final group fixtures which will see Zambia square-up against Mali in Kigali while Uganda who have still stand a chance of qualifying play against already eliminated Zimbabwe.
Coach George Lwandamina has already indicated that he will not field a weakened squad despite qualification having been sealed already on match day 2 as he aims to finish on top of the group to avoid the North Africans who were rampant against Niger on Tuesday pushing five past the West African without conceding any.
The Tunisians have proved to be Zambia’s ‘achilles heel’ in the last 12 months beating both the senior team and most recently the U23 at the Africa Cup of Nations and the Africa Under-23 championship in Senegal. Generally Zambia has struggled against North African opposition with Egypt also having roasted Zambia 3 – 0 in a friendly played in October.
Zambia and Mali have only met 4 times with the Chipolopolo having the advantage of having won twice and not losing any, a record ‘Chicken’ will want to build on.
Lwandamina: We will field the best players against Mali and progress match after match to the end of the tournament
However Zambia go into this game with the best defence at the tournament having not conceded a goal in the tournament yet, with two goals scored.
Despite the low return on goals, the Chipolopolo have shown a lot attacking intent having had 16 shots on goal with 5 on target against Zimbabwe and they looked even better against Uganda.
Lwandamina is expected to continue with the back four of Dauti Musekwa, Christopher Munthali, Adrian Chama and Stephen Kabamba while the midfield will see some shaking up with Salulani Phiri out. Benson Sakala who impressed after coming on a substitute will take his place while Isaac Chansa, and Jack Chirwa will retain their places together with Cletous Chama.
Lwandamina: We came here with certain objectives to be attained. One was to build a much stronger side for other assignments like AFCON and the World Cup and secondly to expose as many players as we possibly can and lastly to protect our football integrity. We will go and try to maximize our points
Christopher Katongo is also expected to start in front with either Conlyde Luchanga or Patson Daka playing alongside him though a chance may be given to the fringe players in the team.
Zambia only need a draw to top the group which will see them return to Rubavu to play Group C runners up Guinea.
On the other hand, Mali come into this fixture desperate for a result. The West Africans who are in second position could qualify if Uganda loses to Zimbabwe but they will need at least a draw to keep destiny in their own hands and could top the group if they beat Zambia.
The two group D matches kickoff at 16:00hrs
Zambia Probable XI:
Jacob Banda – Dauti Musekwa, Christopher Munthali, Adrian Chama, Stephen Kabamba – Jack Chirwa, Benson Sakala, Isaac Chansa – Cletous Chama, Chris Katongo, Patson Daka
Will need to beat Mali so to keep the spirit high n going strong. a good result will strengthen our hopes of reaching the finals.
Fight hard chipolopolo we’re behind you go zed go.
Zamfoot Mali is yet to beat zambia in. any of the four Meetings, we have won twice & drawn twice
Good line up, go get them boys
Any doubts about Daut??
Ine, I was looking out for a comment from that blogger who was praying God almighty could deliver the Chipolopolo into the hands of Nigeria for a beating in this CHAN tournament.
Unfortunately its, sorry my brother your prayers will not be answered
I’m not convinced zambia can beat Mali or any team in the top 10 in africa given their recent performances at all levels. Remember Mali beat zambia at the under 20 these malians are tough. Zambia is lucky to be in the next round because we played 2 minnows of African football Uganda and zimbabwe. I hope I’m working but zambia has not been convincing of late. I wish the boys the best anyhow hopefully they can top the group and avoid Tunisia whom they can’t beat.
O de best guys patson daka en muthali shud start along side Christopher katongo, Isaac chansa nt buchizya mfune en super sub conlyde luchanga shud cum in de half of hour go chipolopolo go
I love a comment bro John has made but i have a different view,I think the team Lwandamina took has show so much improvement.The same minors that bro john is saying we beat,they have beaten the big western african countries before.Zimbabwe has done it before against Nigeria.Their performance was super in the last chan bt today they are on the bottom.Therefore,Zambia has proved to be good and are one of the potential counted on team to deliver for mother Zambia,to conlude,it foot football we can still win the game today.God bless you zamfoot fans.God is love
Well spoken all the best to Chipolopolo, update us please will be knocking off from work!
We need to beat these arrogant and corky Malians and avoid playing the Arabs! They are so scary to say the least!
I have second thoughts about resting our star players in today’s game after what i saw yesterday; we have to teach those talkative Malians a footballing lesson!
Guinea have got an extremely dangerous front three that will be very difficult to track and contain. I don’t know how Christopher Munthali and co will manage to keep them quiet over 90 minutes!
Go zambia go we ar really behind u boys weatha tunisia or guinea they ar dead
just tell us the live streaming so that we can be set.
Some of you, you aren’t Zambia always negative comments, give praise were they due
you always say Nigeria, Ghana Egypt were are there? shame on you BA fikala mushulefye
gud lineup ba coach we wil win this game but im very suprise with other comments saying we won the last two games just becoz there are minows, lets apriciet the team, the guyz are working hard to get gud results, its not easy other teams are packing there bags, but we are stil there. every time being negative lets surport our team.
whether u like it or not we wil qualify to the semi finals & it wil be a shame to all wailers. im wishng zambia all the best!
Tricky match , but will be pretty close. I believe non of these two teams would want to lose or risk injuries , therefore a draw will be fair. Facing Guinea will be tough , they are a very good side and we have never beaten them , we met them in Egypt (Cup Of Nations) , I think they beat us 2-1 . We have to be disciplined to defeat them.
we are also a good side.
zb go gudlineup we ar behind u guyz,.
I have never heard any positive comment from John he is just like that. On the other hand Kay Hammer has really impressed me of late, he is fairly accommodative in his analysis. Zambia is improving in each and every game. Let’s support the team and give the lads chance to improve.
live streaming?
we wish chipolopolo all the best!!. go zambia go , harm mali to 0 percent
Zambia is a good side.We are beating Mali today.
national athems
Thankx dizzynut 4 giving bamambala amalumbo,if some of u guy u a not a zambian beter u keep queity,lose,win and draw expect 1 frm thes,what typ of fans a u mwankas.the team is ok we just expect any thngs coz its game.
Chipolopolo ii also b difficulty to beat we dont ve leathal strikers but we ve the best diffence in the tonament guenea ve gud frontline but weak difence this game becomes tricky, i know phestus would ve made a difference even if he is not very good