The Zambia national team were on Sunday afternoon beaten 2 – 1 by the Nigerians to throw a wrench in Zambia’s quest for a first world cup appearance.
Goals from Alex Iwobi and Kilechi Iheanacho in the first half gave the Nigeria the maximum points with Chipolopolo scoring a face saver through Collins Mbesuma.
The Chipolopolo started well and hit the target first through the impressive Fwayo Tembo who saw his cross cum shot trouble the steady Nigerian goalie in the 3rd minute. He again saw a shot saved by the keeper when he had his marker chasing his shadow when he cut in inside from the left to shoot with his right.
Nigeria however quickly settled into their rhythm but they were not doing enough to trouble Kennedy Mweene though the leaks in the Zambian defense were already showing.
The Super Eagles finally got their break in the 32nd minute when Kabaso Chongo loosely marked Iwochi and once the Nigerians had launched a long throw in into the box, a header from Adrian Chama saw the ball fall kindly for the Arsenal striker who blasted home from within the box with Kennedy Mweene only managing to get his hand to eat but to no effect.
Zambia then looked disjointed after conceding but some quality work on the right by Fwayo Tembo saw him skin his marker to release an excellent which Rainford Kalaba met with force but his header was straight at the keeper.
The Zambian central defensive pairing was struggling to keep with the movement of the of the Nigerians and the visitors scored their second when a good run by Iheanacho through the middle split the Zambian defense for him to go round the keeper, stop at the by-line, steady himself near the upright and smash the ball in the net as a lethargic Zambian defense watched.
After the break, coach Wedson Nyirenda rested jittery Chama and played Kondwani Mtonga (48th minute) in central defense and also brought in Jackson Mwanza for Winstone Kalengo (57th Minute).
Changes steadied the ship and saw Zambia push for a goal though the break was not coming through for Zambia with Mbesuma, Mwanza and Kalaba all coming very close.
Mbesuma finally scored for Zambia in the 71st minute when he capitalized on a poor clearance for min to shoot low within the box.
Nigeria also had very three very good chances in the second half and were only denied by some good goalkeeping by Mweene with Obi Mikel coming close.
Despite Zambia throwing everything at the Nigerians, nothing came through for the Chipolopolo as they settled for a 2 – 1 loss.
The other group match sees Algeria host Cameroun.
Zambia will next play Cameroun away on 7th November in Yaounde.
Zambia XI
16 Kennedy Mweene 12 Kabaso Chongo 3 Fackson Kapumbu 4 Adrian Chama (Kondwani Mtonga) 13 Stopilla Sunzu 19 Nathan Sinkala 17 Rainford Kalaba 10 Fwayo Tembo (Rogers Kola) 11 Chisamba Lungu 9 Collins Mbesuma 8 Winston Kalengo (Jackson Mwanza)
Nigeria XI
1 Ikeme Carl Onora 3 Elderson Echiejire 4 Kenneth Josiah Omeruo 5 William Paul Ekong 8 Brown Ideye (Esiti) 10 John Obi Mikel 11 Moses Daddy Simon (Ahmed Musa) 15 Kelechi Promise Iheanacho 17 Ogenyi Eddy Onazi 18 Alexander Chuka Iwobi 21 Onyinye Wilfred Ndidi
Wada Wada made tachnical errors after he removed Fwayo Tembo and this changed the complection of the game.Fwayo was more offensive.Our Coach could have substituted Kalaba coz he missed alot of chances and his assists had little impact.Rodger Kola could have partnerd Kalengo with Mbesuma as a box to box attacking midfielder ..Anyway too bad we lost .Time to go back to the drawing board .Am sure lessons have been learnt about today’s loss.
Kondwani is best Zambian player, he can play any number.
Fwayo yes truly gave it all.
zambia failed… lolz
100% my brother our coach made a mistake but we made alot of mistakes at the back particularly chama but let’s not put our heads down still more games to be played.
More games to be played against Cameroon and Algeria! Forget it!
2 back to back victories for Nigeria right there in Ndola. Our U23 came to Zambia and defeated you guys last year. Now the super eagles have done the same.
We are waiting for your rubber bullet team in Abuja, surely another sweet 3 points for the Eagles.
Football is a game. No hard feelings. Both teams gave a good account of themselves.
where is john the dentist?
Criminal defending by Zambia.The midfield and Defense looked disjointed.
In attack Wedson has to decide and the best combination going forward.Fwayo Tembo was impressive and made a case for himself.Kalengo,Mbesuma and Mwanza have to compete for the same position.
Chisamba does not contribute much as a Senior player..The younger guys can equally much him-I see not value in using him.
Otherwise the second half showing was good but too late for Zambia
under Kananga Chipolopolo will be like kabwe worr
actury our coach is gud he jst made one mistake for sub fwayo.but our defenders was poor.
Congrats to my country Nigeria
.Zambia also put up a spirited church against us
God bless Africa
class triumphed. our playrs ply in the usless psl and isreal ligue. kelechi iheanacho , iwobi. musa , mikel. i had said they would outclass us .
Congrats Naija
The boys tried. Tactics and poor selection made us lose. Chisamba cannot play the box to box position because he lacks discipline on maintaining his position and defending. There is only one zambian player that can play that position and that is isaac chansa. If he is not fit try Singuluma. The rest are just gambles. Chama is a liability in defense even munthali is better. We should even try Charles sons. Sunzu is alone at central defense. Wada needs to improve we could have beaten Nigeria today. On a positive Fwayo, kapumbu looked really good. Something is up with Kalengo his game has gone down in Congo.
There was no outclassing Nigeria was just luck and more experienced but they have won am very proud of this team I think there is some improvement wada is good the galactical was excellent
I think the Zambians tried today
That fwayo of a guy is a gud player, always beating our 3. Was relieved when he was substituted.
caint stop laughing, zambian fans talk much .. well for super eagles 3pnt in the bank. .. we are too hot for zambia as a nation to handle.. there president also withness zambia downfall
Congrats to Nigeria, yes Wada Wada can do better,my question am asking is coming from Log table both top scorer and top team. I would go for top strikers, the defense those that have allowed less than 12 goals in the league. My point is Chama is coming Green Buffaloes who have allowed more than 12 goals in the league to me I would have gone for Mutonga or Ziyo Tembo in the first place. Am not saying I don’t like Green Bufffaloes no I support every team in the league because am a soccer fan. Wada Wada congrats together with your team and players but most importantly the 12th player who kept on singing Chipolopolo song until we scored. Lets go to the drawing board and work on our weakness. I feel for Kamanga and his team any way lets iron out admin issues and continue giving support to the team. Fwayo was my man of the match by the way ba Zamfoot player rater kaili naimwe.
I’m a Nigerian. Sincerely a game must be won or lost, I must say this…so much positives to take home from the Zambian national team perspective, the second half was a brilliant performance, though not enough to cancel d deficit from d first half.
wada you have errored, never the less you have chance improve, call lubambo and mbola to straighten the team, fwayo was man of the match
Fwayo is a good player.
zambia played well chalaba was very good terrorised our right back but at the end class showed cus the two goal scorers for us ply their trade at the best league nd took their goals well wishing zambia best of luck from a nigerian
Zambia has never won a match since the overpromising clique of bitter, hatred and jealousy people took over at football house.
Fwayo Tembo is a great player guys his performance speaks volumes. am also happy with Kapumbu what a player where was this guy all along. the very first time I watched this guy with Zanaco I saw potential to compete for that number. his got a sweet left foot. good luck to our team we tried and it was not just our game. my opinion I feel next time let’s try chaila in the middle that guy is strong and hard on the ball. watch the games he has played with Zesco he can add something different to the squad.
I think at the world cup we must produce a better team as Africans I don’t mind whether it is Nigeria, Algeria ,Congo etc I fill Nigeria sh9uld improve defensively facing Cameroon or Algeria might be desastrous but congrats thumbs up
simply they are a clas above us. ahmed musa , iheanacho, iwobi, mikel. u need such p3digree to make it to world cup. our players simply gave them too much respect. my prediction was zambia 0 nigeria 2. we are yet to play Africa’s most lethal team algeria.
@Zambian Buffalo, take heart and pray like Nigerians are doing that the Algeria vs Cameroon match ends draw. As at 34th minutes it was 1-1. Algeria scored at the 7th minutes while Cameroon equalise at the 24th minutes. The only problem is that only one team will quàlify from each group. A draw is better for Nigeria and of course for Zambia too as it will be only one point separating them. We are monitoring the situation is Algiers or somewhere in Algeria.
Ahahahahahahahahah.
Am officially here to laugh. Ahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahhajahahahahahahahahhahahaha???????
We just beat u in ndola. Prepare for the final burial in Nigeria.
Good news for Nigeria and Zambia. Algeria vs Cameroon 1-1. Nigeria is toping the group with 3 points, Cameroon 1 point, Algeria 1 point, Zambia 0 point. If Zambia can reenact their play in the last 20 minutes of the Zambia vs Nigeria match, their next opponent will not have it easy. Zambian friends take heart.
Ahahahqhahahqhahhahahah. I said it. That’s how big boys roll. We fly in a day to the match,beat them and fly out.
That’s how big teams roll.????
Kamanga do the obvious, hire two youth experienced coaches frm Barcelona FC and Zambias football will never be the same!
group B wc stds
Nigeria 3 pts
Cameroon 1pt
Algeria 1pt
Zambia 0 pt
it’s too early this group is still open
we were crying for a change is this the change we were crying for?
Tacticaly we were not thair ,nigeria dominated in the midle were we had kalaba lungu,fwayo,sinkala ,my quation is who was defending