The Zambia national this evening takes on Congo Brazaville in the Gabon 2017 Group E Africa Cup of Nationa qualifier.
Both teams are tied on 4 points and a win for Zambia will put the George Lwandamina coached side in pole position as they head into the return leg in Brazaville while failure to collect maximum points will put Zambia in a compromised position with only one team qualifying from each group.
The two teams have met 6 times with Zambia having an upper hand having won 3 times while two games have ended in draws.
Congo arrived in Zambia arrived about 1930hrs Zambian time and they were kind enough to give Zambian striker Winstone Kalengo who plys his trade in their country a ride on their plane.
In the Chipolopolo camp, the last to join was goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene after his Sundowns team got stranded in Congo after their CAF Champions league game against Kalengo’s AC Leopards.
Israel based striker Evans Kangwa will not be part of the team after he failed to make the trip owing to an injury.
The Chipolopolo had a final training session at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium last evening with new FAZ president Andrew Kamanga watching from the touchline.
The training started at 1920 due to a delay owing to a power outage with all the players called available except for Mweene and Kangwa.
It was not clear who will take the captain arm band as Chris Katongo as usual to be in-charge with a lot of ‘directing and pointing’ and he was in the centre when the team was stretching. Incumbent skipper Rainford Kalaba did not look too pleased.
The game kicksoff at 1800hrs CAT.
Chipolopolo squad:
Goalkeepers: Kennedy Mweene (Mamelodi Sundowns/RSA), Jacob Banda (Zesco United), Racha Kola (Zanaco);
Defenders: Buchizya Mfune (Green Buffaloes), Stephen Kabamba (Green Buffaloes), Adrian Chama (Green Buffaloes), Davies Nkausu (Free State Stars/RSA), Stoppila Sunzu (Lille/FRANCE), Chongo Kabaso (TP Mazembe/DRC);
Midfielders: Jackson Chirwa (Green Buffaloes), Benson Sakala (Power Dynamos), Spencer Sautu (Green Eagles), Salulani Phiri (Zanaco), Nathan Sinkala (TP Mazembe/DRC), Lubambo Musonda (Gandzasar Kapan/ARMENIA), Isaac Chansa (Zanaco), Christopher Katongo (Green Buffaloes), Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazmbe/DRC), Clatous Chota Chama (Zesco United);
Strikers: Collins Mbesuma (Mpumalanga Black Aces/RSA), Conlyde Luchanga (Lusaka Dynamos), Winston Kalengo (AC Leopards/Congo)
no morale kaili Kalu is gone!
Tiza ona ko let’s hope the boy well benangu bazachukapo musanga,than expected
Don’t give C. Katongo the arm band he has got few chances left to be called to the squad unlike Rainford who is in his prime and abundant talent. CK will demoralised Kalaba who is undoubtedly a play maker and above all the whole team. It is not reigning captain who will be affected but also people like Mweene, Mbesuma, Chansa and the like.
haha!Zamfoot, are trying to pit Kalaba against Chris? I think the arm should rest with kalaba.
Give us starting lineup
It hasn’t been released yet.
“Incumbent skipper Rainford Kalaba did not look too pleased”…..that’s a recipe for disaster!!! Hope all goes well and Zambia carries the day!
So Kangwa umwaiche snubbed national call-up all in the name of being “injured”? Those with data, is Kangwa really injured?
From what I have read here, I see a spirit of heaviness in the squad what with the ouster of Kalu as well as the presence of Katongo. Note this is just my opinion, observation and speculation. I hope all is well with the squad.
Yes, Yes, Yes, oh Yeeeeeeeeees! Battle lines have finally been drawn and it’s now time for Bulls to lock their sharp horns. I’ll be watching from the tree top as one mistake from either may put my life in danger. One the two has just been quenching its thirst from its usual waterhole.
kangwa was reportedly to have been injured during saturdays league game in Israel.
@ex zit morale is there look at the comments you are the only who think so
Chris should humble himself and give due respect to Kalaba. This is not Chan where you have a bunch of inexperienced players shivering when he arrived. He should be there trying to seek attention ( why was he in the middle naena ? ) we need unity in that team, if Chris continues to be a sorce of discomfort to the rest – jettison the man !
Go zambia go
Chris has a bad spirit and he thinks he plays good football than everyone mu national team, why been on the middle pa training. He has a spirit of confusion and he wants to disturb our team. Kalaba should be with the band. Katongo should not even play. Nipulanga.
i would go for chris as captain coz he commands alot of respect
ZAMBIA AND CONGO HEAD TO HEAD RECORD GOING INTO TODAY’S FIXTURE:
2007
Zambia 3- Congo 0 AFCON Q
Congo 0- Zambia 0 AFCON Q
2005
Zambia 2-Congo 0 WCQ/AFCON Q
2004
Congo 2-Zambia 3 WCQ/AFCON Q
1997
Zambia 3- Congo 0 WCQ
1996
Congo 1 Zambia 0 WCQ
1984
Zambia 2- Congo 1 FR
1980
Zambia 1- Congo 1 FR
Zambia 4-Congo 1 FR
1974 AFCON Semis
Zambia 4- Congo 2
Source Bolazambia.com
Confusion the squad, y should Chris be in the middle instructing other players? Also Kalengo will be lineant to Congo for the congolise fufu he had eaten with them on the plane.
He is a professional & knows what is expected of him . Don’t think like the old Bible story of Jacob & Esau – food for a birth right. He is a born Zambian & will not sell his country for food. Mumbi, reverse your thinking
This coach should have called Mayuka he’s so silly
I agree with you.
Kalaba should remain with the arm band, he is a skipper for our chipolopolo boys, so shall it be, naimwe bachris ikaleni fye, respect your captain regardless of age, kalaba show them leadership and command, go go chipolopolo boys
@john u are right my bro mayuka & singuluma should hav been called, looking at our local players in camp can not be compared to mayuka & given,
Ofcource Katongo can’t be captain of the team. We have not forgotten the saga of sneaking girlfriend into camp! That is poor judgement on his part. After all he has never shown any remorse whatsoever? In any case lwandamina has cleared stated Who his captain is, that is Kalaba period.
Zamfoot stop what you are doing , now you want to finish Katongo or Kalaba , for your information ,Players are also reading this site so stop it It’s up to the coach
true..I mean the reporting to me sounds as though its mere speculation.Go get the boys.
Chris doesn’t even deserve to start.He should be on the bench!
i agree with most of you guys, let Kalaba captain the team for unity’s sake. We need all the three points and nothing less.good luck to chipolopolo.
Please, provided anyone has a link to the game, do post it here.Thank you.
A new dawn of Zambian football begins this evening now that the former FAZ criminal and dictator Kalusha Bwalya is out of office. The onus is on the team to beat the unpredictable Congo Brazzaville team.
Kalaba is the right man to lead de Chipolopolo square.No arguments here. One Love
pliz bachris lekeni umwaiche band
katongo knows nothing about football.if u knows football u can agree with me.
kalaba is our national team captain pliz dont distb my player go zambia go we love u all this is siddy k
Either Kalaba or Chris can be the captain Soccer is not about captainship but rendering service.
Ba Zamfoot please rise above the habit of trying to incite petty issues like you’re trying to do about the captaincy. Lwandamina made it clear that Kalaba is captain. Don’t drag us into an irrelevant distraction when we have such a vital match to focus on. You can do better than that.
Now my comments are awaiting moderation simply coz I’m telling Zamfoot to be reasonable about the captaincy issue. You need to be open to criticism ba Zamfoot otherwise this site will be boring if everyone agreed with everything written.
To the author of this article, your knowledge of the geographical map of Africa is appalling. Winston plays in DR Congo and not Congo Brazzaville!!! Please research before writing nonsense, by the way who was the editor?? You both don’t know what you’re doing.
Ache you’re the one who need to do your research here not the other way round .
Lets Wek 2getha And Remove Our Faz President Bcoz Is Da 1 Wu Made Us 2draw….Where Is Singuluma& MAYUKA!!!!!!!!