Ethiopia 2 – 3 Zambia (International Friendly)
The Zambian national team left it late to pick a morale boosting 3 – 2 win over Ethiopia in an international friendly match played in Addis Ababa on Thursday afternoon.
Kelvin Kampamba who has been blistering form for the Chipolopolo scored a goal to make it three goals with two assists in four matches while Zanaco striker Albert Kangwanda scored a brace with his second coming in injury time.
Coach Micho named a familiar line-up with Lameck Siame and Bruce Musakanya making their first starts in the current series of friendlies. Zambia looked purposeful going forward in the early exchanges but it was the hosts who took the lead in the 14th minute after a good interchange of passes that saw Benson Sakala pulled out to the right only to be beaten for the arriving striker Getaneh Kabede to finish off the cross for the opener.
It seemed a balanced affair from then on and Zambia equalized in the 40th minute when Luka Banda launched a searching ball from defense which the defender passed back to the goalkeeper. Emmanuel Chabula was quick to close down the Ethiopian goalie and whose rushed clearance was poor as it fell to Kampamba on the edge of the box. He made no mistake to rifle home for his second goal in as many matches.
A minute after that, Ethiopia restored their lead from the spot through Aschalew Tamene. This was after the Zambian defense dithered to clear a harmless ball for the striker to get in between the defender and striker to draw an easy foul for which the referee pointed to the spot.
The game was 2-1 in favour of the hosts at the interval.
Micho made changes after the hour mark with Zambia dominating play but looking vulnerable on the counter attack. Friday Samu (in for Musakanya), Albert Kangwanda (in for Kondwani Chiboni), Thomas Zulu (in for Collins Sikombe), Benedict Chepeshi (in for Kelvin Kampamba), and Kebson Kamanga (in for Emmanuel Chabula) all came in and as has been the case in Micho’s games, Zambia were looking stronger in the dying minutes.
The pressure paid off with Albert Kangwanda levelling the scores in the 87th minute with his first goal for the national team. The Zanaco striker completed his brace in the third minute of stoppage time to ensure Zambia marched on with a third win in four matches since the resumption of football matches after the Covid-19 shut down.
The Chipolopolo will now focus on the next friendly match against South Sudan before finishing off their tour of East Africa with another game against Ethiopia on Sunday.
Zambia XI Vs Ethiopia
Lameck Siame (18), Kondwani Chiboni (4) (Albert Kangwanda), Zacharia Chilongoshi (23), Benson Sakala-C-(6), Luka Banda (5), Kelvin Kapumbu (15) (Paul Katema), Collins Sikombe (14) (Thomas Zulu), Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba (7) (Benedict Chepeshi), Chaniza Zulu (20) (Amity Shamenda), Bruce Musakanya (12) (Friday Samu), Emmanuel Chabula (3) (Kebson Kamanga)
Substitutes:
Charles Muntanga (1), Jackson Kakunta (16), Benedict Chepeshi (13), Kebson Kamanga (19), Luka N’guni (22), Thomas Zulu (2), Leonard Mulenga (8), Dominic Chanda (21), Paul Katema (17), Friday Samu (10), Amity Shamende (9), Albert Kangwanda (11)
A lot of patients is needed. This pure rebuilding. Match against Botswana a team of professionals will do the job. Locals should play Chan and cosafa to gain the needed experience .. Thanks for winning the match
There is no heroism in stupidity this man is too small to coach Zambia. We need a coach who can drill chipolopolo not this coach he is already fighting players.. Obvious he is talking about fashion and chilufiya.. Let them concentrate with their clubs.. Where their bread is buttered .. You will be fired after zim match
Tony. your own words.
Micho slowly doing it for zambia?. Am sure Grandpa Stumpy will have some ill comments coming through..
Viva micho and the lads , slowly we are coming up.
@ paradox, we have a long way to go. zambia does not have what it takes to beat Algeria and Zimbabwe away. long term maybe. right now this looks to me like the new coach is starting to try and build his own stuff.
Not convinced if the coach can deliver, will only have verdict after playing Botswana, Zim and Algeria….
Our defense is leaking too many goals. they need to learn to switch into defensive geer the moment we loose the ball, and back to offensive when we gain possession
I am nodding my Head and watching carefully, I will not clap yet! Micho must work I will not sing praises till I see substance.
Eko usulile eko pa Noko. Was the same HR. He was called names like PE teacher etc. but he won the AFCON after reaching the 1/4 finals in 2010
“ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN ONE DAY”
Let the coach do his Job. He has just been in the job for a few months and yet some people are expecting miracles. That is not the way it is. We should learn to give each other time.
@Paradox this Coach is good. Lets give him time. But he needs experience in hs Team. Stopila Sunzu, Nathan Sinkala are needed to help all these young boys especially against Algeria and Zimbabwe. Personally i feel even R.Kalaba can come back and play even 45 minutes in a game. We need experience gentlemen the Desert Foxes and Zim are not “Taka taka” business or chipatepate.
Can someone help me and name a player in Zambia currently who is a better Defensive midfielder than Nathan The “Enforcer” Sinkala?