CHAN: Zambia off to flying start with win over Tanzania

2021 CHAN Group D: Zambia 2 – 0 Tanzania (Collins Sikombe 64′, Emmanuel Chabula 81′)

Zambia’s campaign in the 2021 CHAN tournament has started on a bright note with a 2 – 0 win over neighbours Tanzania in the opening match of Group D played at the Limbe Omnisposrt Stadium.

Two second half goals from Collins Sikombe who scored a penalty and a top of the shelf strike by Emmanuel Chabula were enough to send the Chipolopolo top of the group at least for the mean time.

Chipolopolo coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević seemed to show a lot of respect for the Taifa Stars as he named a lone striker (Chabula) in the starting eleven with attacking midfielders to back him up.

Tanzania looked more in control of the game with the Zambian midfielders looking overpowered and not doing themselves any favors with a lot of misplaced passes.

The Chipolopolo however were doing enough in attack and ended the half with seven shots on goal with two of them on target thanks to Sikombe and Chabula who were both denied by the brilliance of the Aishi Manula in the Tanzania goal.

Impressive Golden Mafwenta who picked a card in the first half was replaced by Spencer Sautu at the break and his introduction gave Zambia some width and impetus in attack. Tanzania also started pushing forward more and this left space at the back for Zambia to exploit.

With 62 minutes played, Zambia launched a counter attack with Mubanga Kampamba finding the run of Chabula who ran to the right of the box. He squared the ball across the box to find the arriving Paul Katema and his goal bound volley was stopped by the hand of the defender for the referee to point to the spot.

Sikombe stepped up to take the spot kick and he made no mistake with his shot coming off the upright for the opener in the 64th minute.

Sikombe could have made it two for Zambia two minutes later when we was played into space by Katema who won the ball high up the field but his tame effort was well saved by the keeper. The rebound fell kindly for Chabula but his first time shot was off target with only the goal at his mercy.

Chabula made amends in the 81st minute when Sikombe’s run into the box was spotted by Sautu. The Lusaka Dynamos star turned provider this time when he squared the ball for his club mate who took a step back to steady himself to take a volley with great technique that left the goalkeeper with no chance. Certainly a contender for the goal of the tournament!

Despite their dominance on the ball, Tanzania offered very little in the final third and were reduced to long range efforts with Allan Chibwe in the Zambia goal only having one save to make.

The other two teams in group D, Namibia and Guinea meet in the late kick off.

Zambia’s next game is against Guinea on Saturday 23rd January, 2020.

Zambia XI v Tanzania

8. Allan Chibwe, 5. Luka Banda, 23. Zachariah Chilongoshi, 4. Clement Mulashi, 3. Benedict Chepeshi, 22. Golden Mafwenta (Spencer Sautu), 21. Paul Katema, 15. Kelvin Kapumbu,14. Collins Sikombe (Jack Chirwa), 7. Kelvin Kampamba (Amity Shamenda), 17. Emmanuel Chabula

Tanzania Starting XI

18. Aishi Manula 21. Shomari Kapombe 28. Edwards Charles 20. Kalos Protus 5. Bakari Mwamnyeto 26. Baraka Mwajogoro 19. Yusuph Muhilu 6. Feisal Salum 29. Ditram Nchimbi 8. Lucak Kikoti 23. Ayubu Langa