Player Ratings: Tunisia 3-1 Zambia

Zambia went down in Tunisia courtesy of a 3-1 scoreline in a match of two halves having endured a torrid run in the first half going into the half time break trailing 3-0 after a lethargic display.

The second half was a bit better as there were sustained spells of possession and better pressure off the ball. It was tighter in the second and much more pleasing.

With a combination of everyone’s exertions on the evening in both halves, the ZamFoot Crew’s Flanklyn Malambo takes a look at how the players

1. Toaster Nsabata 5/10 – Couldn’t do much about both the first and the second goal that he conceded as his defenders didn’t close down the opponents and the spaces.

Bamboozled for the third goal but for keeping out a penalty and another sure face to face against an opposing striker when the match was at 1-0 and 3-0 respectively, he gets a fairly decent rating.

2. Simon Silwimba 3/10 – His side was hardly tested in the first half but on the few occasions it was, he didn’t do much.

Offered little in attack too with a few wayward passes. A bad day for the Zesco United cog.

4. Dominic Chanda 5/10 – Looks very generous for a defender in a defense that shipped in so many goals but for the things where he could be judged alone, he did well.

Good in the 1v1, hard in the tackle and cleaned up well when required. Had a few moments of poor decision making in possession but excusable.

5. Thandi Mwape 3/10 – Rushed from end to finish. Got booked early in the match and was never at easy. Looked lost at times in the heart of defence and will be hoping for better days ahead.

3. Prosper Chiluya 2/10 – Torrid game for the young fullback. Troubled through out the match. Looked very uncomfortable on the ball too and at times looked lost like a rabbit under the flood lights.Still a lot of personal work to be done.

6. Dickson Chapa 1/10 – Brought in the starting 11 to provide steel and balance, offered non. It’s a performance he would want to forget soonest.

Gets the 1 for making the appearance and for one block in the first half.

8. Emmanuel Banda 5/10 – Bad first half but redeemed himself in the second with a pretty solid performance. Used the ball better both in the sort and long passes and useful on set pieces.

7. Lubambo Musonda 5/10 – Another who had a better second as compared to first half. Got involved a lot and tried to push the issue. Could have however done better in certain 1V1 situation but surely can’t be faulted for all his efforts.

11. Evans Kangwa 4/10 – Turned up a different player from the one seen on Saturday in the Mauritania game. Was bright early in the match then fizzled out. Showed a few flashes in the second but overall not much from the Arsenal Tula man.

9. Patson Daka 4/10 – Honestly it should have been a 3 but he gets an extra for cleverly winning the Penalty off which Fashion Sakala scored via a rebound.

Couldn’t hold the ball, couldn’t work the channels and was hardly himself. His efforts and desires clear for all to see albeit mostly in vain.

10. Fashion Sakala 4/10 – Another who gets an extra mark because of the goal otherwise could have been worse. Will be hoping for better days ahead.

Substitutes

Klings Kangwa 7/10 MOTM – Came on in the 46th minute and hardly put a foot wrong. Stabilised the team in the middle, enabled the team to have the ball, linked up play, carried the ball forward and worked very hard off it.

If half of the players had an attitude and application like his on the day, it would have been a better result for Zambia.

Moses Phiri – Not on long enough to be rated.

Technical Bench

Beston Chambeshi – As head coach, he was the conductor on the touchline in the first half but it was hard to note what he was conducting, a bad night for the man who also doubles up as Nkana Gaffer.

Aljosa Asanovic – The Technical Advisor conducted in the second half and the team looked much better.He was active on the touchline, very audible with instructions and kept pushing the players.

Under his instructions, the team looked much much better. As it should be.Another qualification campaign ends in disaapointment for Zambia and maybe the only positives would be the lessons picked up with the hope that this time around they will be applied with the hope of better days ahead