Winger Lameck Banda came off the bench to help Zambia seal a 3-1 win over Lesotho in the Ivory Coast 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifier.
Goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata made a blunder as he allowed the visitors to score from a long range free kick.
With Nsabata almost in tears, Patson Daka and Emmanuel Banda went to comfort their former Nchanga Rangers teammate as this gesture gave 40, 000 plus fans at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium belief that their will be a famous come back.
Having being initially deployed on the right wing Fashion Sakala switched flanks with Lameck Banda, who had replaced the injured captain Lubambo Musonda.
Sandwiched between two Lesotho players, Emmanuel Banda switched play with diagonal pass to Sakala down the left flank.
Sakala, on the books of Glasgow Rangers charged forward and unleashed a low shot which beat the Likuena goalkeeper to find the equaliser for Zambia.
After the break, Avram Grant’s men continued to explore spaces in the opposition half and at some point had 89% possession.
In the 53rd minute, Lameck Banda nodded home off an Kings Kangwa corner kick to give Zambia a 2-1 caution.
Four minutes later, the Lecce winger showed his pacy and composure to unleash a low drive past the Lesotho goalkeeper to grab his second of the night.
Game over as Zambia was leading 3-1, as well was topping Group H on 6 points.
Ivory Coast and Comoros will clash later this week.
There was a late cameo for Larry Bwalya as he replaced Kings Kangwa.
There will be concerns for the fitness of Emmanuel Banda who limped off in injury time.
Zambia will now face Lesotho at Johannesburg’s Dombsville Stadium on match day 4 on Sunday.
FULL TIME: Zambia 3-1 Lesotho (Fashion Sakala , Lameck Banda 53′, 57′, )
Man of the match: Lameck Banda
Zambia XI v Lesotho: Toaster Nsabata – Benedict Chepeshi, Tandi Mwape, Frankie Musonda, Rodrick Kabwe – Benson Sakala, Emmanuel Banda, Kings Kangwa (Larry Bwalya 88′) – Lubambo Musonda (Lameck Banda 25′) Patson Daka, Fashion Sakala
Would have liked to see champions league hat trick hero clatous chama play. Maybe Daka was deployed for psychology reasons knowing the lesothans will have fear he plays for Leicester
Keep it up Zambia May GOD take as to another level Zambia ku Chalo