The Zambia national team on Tuesday went down 3 – 1 to Tunisia in the final group stage match of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
It was a disastrous first half display that saw the Chipolopolo chase shadows in a disjoint display that saw Toaster Nsabata pick the ball three times from the net despite saving a penalty in the same half.
Despite the odds stuck against them, Zambia were looking to put three past Tunisia without conceding to have any chance of peeping Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea to the next round.
Beston Chambeshi made one change to the team that beat Mauritania 4 – 0 at home last week bringing in Dickson Chapa for Rally Bwalya.
However, it was the Tunisians who were ahead in the 18th minute when Laidouni Aissa Bilal reacted first to a second ball from a free kick launched into the box to slot home from near the penalty spot.
Zambia were lucky not to be two goals down in the 29th minute when Nsabata saved a penalty from Khazri Wahbi after he had brought down the striker in the box following a poor back pass by Tandi Mwape.
They made it two in the 31st minute after shredding the Zambian defense with some good play which was finished off by Drager Mohamed.
The Carthage Eagles sealed their passage to the next round with a third goal in the 43rd minute scored by left back Maaloul Ali who power a short past Nsabata.
With only one change made at half time that saw Klings Kangwa come in for Chapa, it was a different display by Chipolopolo in the second half.
The Chipolopolo dominated play and should have reduced the deficit in the 52nd minute when Patson Daka played Fashion Sakala through but he saw his shot saved by the alert Tunisia goalie. Again it was the hosts who had to clear off the line when an in-swinging freekick from Emmanuel Banda caused panic in the box three minutes later.
Zambia finally got a break through when Patson Daka got ahead of his marker from a blind spot to win a spot kick. Sakala stepped up to take the penalty but he was quick to react to bury the rebound in the 79th minute.
Despite introducing Moses Phiri late in the game, Zambia failed to fashion any clear chances for the match to end 3 – 1.
Tunisia qualify to the next round on 13 points with Equatorial Guinea who drew 1 – 1 against Mauritania coming out second on 11 points. Zambia end the group third on 7 points with Mauritania bottom on 2 points.
Zambia XI: 16. Toaster Nsabata – 2. Simon Silwimba, 15. Dominic Chanda 6. Tandi Mwape 4. Prosper Chiluya – 8. Lubambo Musonda 12. Emmanuel Banda 19. Dickson Chapa (Klings Kangwa) 9. Evans Kangwa (Moses Phiri) – 10 . Fashion Sakala 20. Patson Daka
Tunisia XI: 1. Ben Mustapha, 20. Drager Mohamed. 6. Brown Dylan Daniel, 3. Talbi Omar, 4. Meriah Yassine, 12. Maaloul Ali, 8. Khaoui Saif Eddine, 14. Laidouni Aissa Bilal, 13. Sassi Ferjani, 23. Sliti Naim, 10. Khazri Wahbi ©,
So who is that gray haired guy on the touchline doing Chambeshi’s job. I saw him again during the Mauritania game? Cooaching team plus Kamanaga need to resign.
The good thing is it has now stopped hurting seeing these guys lose. Normal thing now. Even the players are more comfortable recording losses than victories. Technical bench and Kamanga must go!!!!!