Zambia and Congo played out to a draw at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Chipolopolo Boys coach George Lwandamina ditched his defensive game and started with an attacking side with quintuple Collins Mbesuma, Rainford Kalaba, Lubambo Musonda, Winstone Kalengo and Chris Katongo all in attack.
The ZamFoot takes a look at how the Copperbullets fared in the 1-all draw. They are rated out of 10.
Kennedy Mweene – 6 – He was on holiday as the visitors just had one shot on target. Wasn’t at fault for the goal as the whole team failed to defend a set piece.
Davies Nkausu – 5- Ba Rio as they call him failed to cope with the quick Congolese attackers led by the deadly Bifouma.
The reason why Lwandamina opted for him was he is better defender than Kabaso Chongo but he looked uncomfortable both in defence and attack.
Stephen Kabamba – 6- Had a better night than Nkausu but didn’t overlap enough. Both him and Nkausu didn’t not whip in any crosses.
Stopilla Sunzu – 6- Not the usual display and lost the battle against dangerman Bifouma.
Adrian Chama -6.5- His confidence is growing game by game. Composed, cool and calm, and quick on the tackle. One has to watch him closely to appreciate him. Didn’t put a foot wrong. Comfortable on the ball and brought the ball out of defence well.
Nathan Sinkala – 7.2- He had a mammoth task of covering the attackers and he did well. He hit the upright in the right half. With the Congolese pushing for the equaliser, Sinkala kept on gesturing to his teammates that he was been overrun in midfield.
Chris Katongo – 7- Deployed in the role he played a decade ago and the legend did well. Started the game a bit slow and after he had settled in, he did well. Substituted in the 57th minute for Clatus Chota Chama.
Rainford Kalaba – 8.5- He was unplayable in the first half and the Congolese defenders couldn’t handle. Best 45 minutes from Kalaba in over 24 months. Purely magical.
After shifting into central defence, Kalaba looked lost in the attacking midfield role. Didn’t not recover on time to help out Sinkala. Maybe it was asking to much from him.
Lubambo Musonda – 7.7- Blistering pace down the right wing. He put in 5 superb crosses into the box but was let down by Kalengo and Mbesuma poor movement when the ball went wide. Should have scored from the rebound after the goalkeeper parried Mbesuma’s 25 yard low drive.
Collins Mbesuma – 8- Another impressive display from the big man as he troubled the Congolese defenders. Maybe he played too deep at time and was far away from the goal.
Winstone Kalengo – 9- He could have scored a brace. KalenGoal took his goal fantastically well. Going by his record in the last 14 months, he is goal poacher but he needs to be attack the ‘near post’ when wingers are putting in crosses.
Lubambo whipped in good crosses and there was no one to meet the ball in the box as he was arriving late.
Subs:
Clatus Chama -5-Welcome to international football. He didn’t stump his authority. Unfairly flagged for offside.
Conlyde Luchanga -5- Came in for Mbesuma but the teenage striker failed to live upto to the tempo of the game.
Lwandamina tactics – ZamFoot Blogger Billy
If I was Lwandamina, I would call Mayuka to partner Kalengo. Mbesuma is too slow now. Mbesuma would do well as a super sub.
It was evident in yesterday’s game that Mbesuma was very tired and should have been substituted. The coach should have pushed Katongo upfront to play just behind Kalengo, substitute Mbesuma and bring in Chansa to partner Sinkala as an attacking midfielder.
Our right and left full back were also tested and found wanting. Kabaso should start at right back. As for left back we have no option but stick with Kabamba.
I only wish Mbola and Singuluma were called to have a larger pool of reliable substitutions. But we have a stubborn coach who does not listen. The coach got the tactics all wrong.
A loss in Congo will spell doom for Zambia. Having said that, Zambia can still win in Congo if they can play the entire 90 minutes an attacking football, while defending as unit.
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ZamFoot Verdict
After Kalengo’s goal, Lwandamina should have brought on a midfielder ideally Isaac Chansa but maybe Salulani Phiri to play as the box to box and support Sinkala.
Then Kalaba could have gone back to the left wing to continue providing the threat and width which lacked after he went into the no.8 role.
Then maybe with two midfielders Mbesuma should have been pushed back and played on the last defender in a 4-4-2 formation. It was clear Zambia lacked a box striker, someone to finish off the crosses.
Zambia lacked depth on the bench especially with game changers. Again with Conlyde Luchanga and Clatus Chama freezing, it shows that there’s a big difference from Cosafa and CHAN games to AFCON and World Cup qualifiers.
Starting Nkausu ahead of Kabaso Chongo was spot but unfortunately Davies felt to deliver. With the 5 attackers on the pitch, Lwandamina needed to find a balance and Nkausu offered that defensive quality atleast on paper.
For close to an hour, Lwandamina’s tactics were spot on but afterwards, one wonders what was happening on the technical bench. Irfan Kawri and Kampamba Chintu?
Nice write up. I would think isaac chansa should have come on. The defence must really organise themselves from Midfield to the back as congo will be thinking to exploit any weakness. It is only a matter now fit and active again Mayuka comes back. lwandania thinks he has a nice thing with Mbesuma and Kalengoal but the back up(for now) has to be ready to step in. Evans Kangwa and Mayuka!
Singuluma too is in the equation.
Singuluma was not part of team naimwe.
Read what i said again thank you.
Only watched second half of the match. Currently we have an ordinary team compared to the team we had 4 years ago. A bit of spark from Kalaba and Kalengo rest are just ordinary players nothing special.
Because of the above we need a good coach who can work with these ordinary players. Look at C.Ranieri at Leicester City and the Croatian at West Ham Slaven. Our current Coach can’t take us anywhere especially if we play teams like Ghana, Ivory Coast..
Tactically and technically he is naïve.
That’s very true. Well said man.
plz call mayuka to partner kalengo so that he can just go direct to Congo
If i was chicken, my starting lineup can be like this. 1.Kennedy 2.kabaso chongo 3.Stephen kabamba 4.chama 5.sunzu 6.sinkala 7.master kalaba 8.since we dont have chisamba i can put chansa 9.kalengo 10.mbesums 11.lubambo
Please Chicken,don’t be stubborn. Bring back Singuluma. He qualified us last time.
all our coaches hv failed 2 find no 8 after isaac, surely 11 yrs ago our top man was mbesuma ed he is stil our hope honestly. The team we played wth is new, young, most of dem playing in france.
62 MINUTES GHANA BLACK STARS -3 MOZAMBIQUE -0
GOALS SCORED BY ACHEAMPONG,JOHN BOYE AND JORDAN AYEW.
GAME ON!!
73rd MINUTE -GHANA BLACK STARS -3 MOZAMBIQUE -1
GAME ON!!
END OF PROCEEDINGS-90 MINUTES, GHANA BLACK STARS–3
MOZAMBIQUE–1
Mwebant am just curios, who is the goalkeeper coach for Chipolopolo? A few months ago at CHAN it Mike Poto but am seen Davis Phiri is back as goalkeeper coach. Ba zamfoot any info on that?
Davies Phiri is the goalkeeper coach.
Never say die we are Chipolopolo and it shall be total war on Sunday, we will do it like the late Legendary Liwewe MHSRP. This is a repeat against a West African team correct me on that one uhh! “clearing the throat” . It was on Sunday when Zambia lifted Afcon against the elephants of Ivory coast. Chipolopolo iyee iyeee…..
Ifwe ba ZESCO bali loadsheda ! Mr President please tell ZESCO not to loadshed during Home matches most especiall World Cup qualifiers lets hear if some soccer fans will say politicking I thought soccer fans are suppose to support football and not personal interest likes politics. Please there are those who support Lungu here but they are mute because they value this website to be a football site and not fake sites like Tumfweko, Watchdog , dailymail and the list is endless, who their interest is propaganda. Please we are one family lets not put salt on a wound. Chipolopolo iyeeee…..
With our backs against the wall, Saturday match will be mouthwatering.
It will be on Sunday, sir.
The guys should play like their lives depend on it .
I don’t agree with your analysis, nkausu played well than kabamba , why do u talk as if we did not watch the match no no… Thats a big lie, unless u tell me that u taking sides, infact mbola shuold be called also help katebe to finalise his transfer with zanaco coz he is the only dependable up coming defender to replace sunzu
Some rating zamfoot you make are not motivating more especially on Luchanga, the boy didnt fail, he just came in, in the last minutes u cant see the best of him in those few min find better words to motivate a player.
There is a comment on one of the pictures that Sinkala was overworked and that Lwandamina did not see it. It should be mentioned that Sinkala was being helped in central midfield by captain fantastic. That being the case are zamfoot saying that Chris Katongo did not do well. And if that is what they are saying why did they give him a rating of 7/10?
All the players were gud but the coach luck national experience so the best is to bring another coach.coz this cn be proved this calling of mbesuma instead of mayuka.
I think those player who enters the field of with 75 played shudnt be rated-put a standard ba zamfoot.Nkauso whip some crosses,are sure zamfoot,only that he was outnumbered this led sunzu to get tired coz that hairy guy a bird become mobile and that left were in nkausu area.what did chama clatous do,he deserves two 4 appearing.after ck left chansa was to brot for lumbambo.kalaba and wasu nt gud markers.
1th half drew nd nw let’s wait for da second half which z in congo on sunday nd am vry much positive dat da bouy’z will carry da day!!!!nd plz pipo let us nt so negative towrdz our nation team coach,!!!!
lets bring anther couch..maybe he cn manage 2 co mayuka instead of mbesuma…go zambia go..