The Zambia National team yesterday qualified to the quarter-finals of the ongoing Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) following a goalless draw with Namibia, finishing second in Group D with five points tied with leaders Guinea who have a better goal difference.
The ZamFoot Crew now looks at five talking points from the Chipolopolo Boys camp.
- The backline had it sorted.
Going into the CHAN tournament, the Zambia national soccer team’s defense was becoming a source of concern to many but with the introduction of Zesco United’s Clement Mwape and Adrian Chama, Micho seems to have found just the right partnership to offer both stability and confidence especially during the build up plays.
2. Zacharia Chilongoshi is one for the future.
Power Dynamos left-back, Zachariah Chilongoshi is such a delight to watch. His beautiful crosses and aggression when on the ball has created so many chances for the Chipolopolo boys with an all-important assist in the game against Guinea.
What’s even more exciting about Chilongoshi is that he keeps getting better and better in each game he plays. Every Chipolopolo fan hopes that he maintains his game and continues to improve.
3 Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba yet to announce his presence.
The Zesco United player is yet to announce his presence at the tournament though he has started all three games and hasn’t completed any game. The question is what’s going on?
While the answer may be in the different team setups at the club and National level, Mubanga aggression and taking on of players from the wing doesn’t seem to happen any time soon.
Micho however seems to be happy with his plan and with how Mubanga contributes to the team and if the coach is happy thus far who are we not to be happy?
4. Collins Sikombe always gets it right.
Started the tournament with a beautifully taken penalty, the Lusaka Dynamos strikers have had more complete passes on the Chipolopolo side than anybody else. His strength and precise ball distribution are top-notch while the aggression to look for the ball even deep in the midfield is equally just as notable.
Sikombe sets and puts the ball in the right places and his brilliance will be a great factor as the team comes against tournament favorites Morocco in the Quarterfinals.
5. Something is cooking compliment of Micho.
Going into the tournament, it was had to believe the Chipolopolo side will win any games. The team hardly strung any passes but low and behold, that is not the case now.
Micho has made changes in the team that has once resulted in a goal through Spencer Sautu but what’s worth noting about his side is how they are distributing the ball and coordinating play.
The philosophy is getting involved in build-up play but for the defenders, it is certainly new to the team and with the likes of Adrian Chama stepping up to initiate long ball distributions while Clement Mwape advancement in open spaces equally beautiful scenery.
His strikers’ inability to convert is something he quickly needs to work in and judging by the quality in his bench, he certainly can’t turn away from Chabula and Sikombe who are so far his preferred favorites.
The Zamfoot crew would like to congratulate Coach Micho and his team for advancing to the next stage of the tournament.
Congratulations team Chipolopolo. Well done. Some games are very hard for the fans to understand. We always want the team to win forgetting that advancement to another level is what is important.
Congrats teacher Mucho and your class for stepping up. but my complement can go without criticism, surely you have to improve upfront if you go quarter finals with this kind of play Moroccans will step on your head. therefore you have to sharpen the striking force.
All what has been said is nonsense
What has been said @Tony Mash?