The Zambian players participating in Africa all had a successful weekend after they managed to pick up wins with their respective clubs apart from Aubrey Chirwa who was not named in the team after only signing for Yanga on Friday evening.
Rainford Kalaba was the star of the weekend for Mazembe when he hit a brace in the home game against Madeama of Ghana to help Mazembe come from behind to win 3 – 1 at home the CAF Confederations Cup Group A match.
Mazembe fell behind in the 2nd minute but the Chipolopolo captain showed that the reigning African Champions were not going to let the game go without a fight when he shot from inside the box after being teed from a freekick only for his goal in the 5th minute to be disallowed.
Kalaba then benefited from a Mokadi cross in the 16th minute to plant his header beyond the reach of the goalkeeper to level scores.
Click here to watch Kalaba’s goals…….
Madeama were then caught napping in defense when Nathan Sinkala headed goal-ward from a corner for defender Coulibaly to finish off from close range on the stroke of half time.
Kalaba then showed brilliance when he received the ball on the left from Sinkala and turned his defender inside to tuck the ball in the far angle of the goal leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Kalaba and Sinkala played the entire match while Given Singuluma who started the match was substituted in the 13th minute.
Kabaso Chongo was not in the team while Jonas Sakuwaha is not registered for the CAF games.
In the same competition, Young Africans of Tanzania lost 1 – 0 away against MO Bejaia of Algeria. Obrey Chirwa did not make the final team after he joined the squad hours before kickoff.
In the CAF Champions League, Kennedy Mweene was an unused substitute when Mamemlodi Sundowns outclassed ES Setif of Algeria in a game played in Setif.
Unsavoury scenes followed in stoppage time as crowd trouble forced coach Pitso Mosimane to pull the Sundowns players off the pitch as they all gathered in the dugout. A few minutes later they were back on the pitch but were made to stand around for 10 minutes as safety precautions were followed.
It was the 91st minute when chaos erupted on the side of the field, but eventually, after a lot of unnecessary waiting, the final whistle was blown.
Emmanuel Mayuka also watched from the bench when Zamalek picked a vital 1 – 0 away win in Nigeria against Enyimba.
Zamalek and Sundowns are in the same group with Sundowns who came through the back-door after the suspension of AS Vita leading the pack.
Good for Zambia though we are surely out of 2017 AFCON.
BAD FOR ZAMBIA
Kalaba alileka ukwingisha for Chipolopolo
Mweene was unused substitute
Mayuka is content with a place on the bench
sINGULUMA WAS SUBSTITUTED IN THE 13TH MINUTE
Kabaso chongo was on the bench
Jonas sakuwa is not registered
YABA Kuti wafwa na BP
Kabaso is in Zambia for his wedding and Singuluma got injured early in the game..
@soccer fan i agree thing are not okay but youre way too pessimistic in your comment
kalaba wil forever be my best player in zambi
I am still waiting for an official apology from FAZ for such a dismal performance of the Chips in Togo and Namibia.
Ba faz bafitala tabomfwa nangu mulande anyway congrats to master k, hm lungu katongo and mbesuma ar my current favourites players, i miss thoz days we use to perfom well and am luking forwad to tht tym.
let us send our small boys to play professional football even within Africa.
its unrealistic to expect kalaba to continue performing at the highest level forever. he reached his peak at the 2010 or 2012 tournaments. he needs to pass the button thats y his performance ll be seen to be inconsistent