Bruce Musakanya is a major doubt for the Zambia Under-23 team’s assignment in the CAF Under-23 African Championship qualifiers because of a nagging injury.
Simukonda is also sweating on the fitness of U20 striker Dave Daka and midfielder Salulani Phiri both of Zanaco.
The U23 who are currently in camp are training from the National Heroes stadium and yesterday had the last laugh when they beat the senior team 1 – 0 in a friendly match.
The Fighton Simukonda coached side found the back of the net through U17 striker Patson Daka.
Zambia will know their May 23 opponents this weekend after Botswana who have a 3 – 0 lead over Kenya.
The final round of qualifiers has Ivory Coast awaiting the winner with the first leg scheduled for July 18 at home and the return leg to follow on August in Abidjan.
The winners will qualify to the second edition of the CAF U 23 Cup to be held in Senegal this December where the four finalists at that tournament will advance to the 2017 Rio Olympics.
Full Squad:
1.Friday Samu-GBFC 2.Spencer Ngalande- Nchanga Rangers 3.Mwansa Nsofwa –Kabwe Warriors 4.John Chingandu- Zesco 5.Bruce Musakanya- Red Arrows 6.Moses Phiri- Zanaco 7.Larry Bwalya Power Dynamos 8.Dave Daka Zanaco 9.Julious Situmbeko -Power Dynamos 10.Paul Sipemba- Kabwe Warriors 11.Charles Zulu-Zanaco 12. Salulani Phiri – Zanaco 13.Aubrey Chamulwanda-Nchanga 14. Shadreck Malambo -Red Arrows 15.Kelvin Mubanga -Power Dynamos 16.Chishimba Changala-Zesco 17.Benardict Chapeshi-Red Arrows 18.Billy Mutale-Power Dynamos 19.Benard Mapili-Zesco Utd 20.Boyd Mkandawire-Napsa Stars. 21.Toaster Nsabata-Zanaco 22.Kapota Kayawe-Nkana 23.Solomon Sakala-Kabwe Warriors. 24.Kenny Mumba-Red Arrows 25.Charles Mweemba-Nkana 26.Laurence Mulenga-
Yaba. That’s sad, when the senior national team is getting hammered by the U23. Sigh, at this point lets just have the U23 play the qualifiers mwe.
It makes sense!
When the under 23 boys played Nigeria they were playing for what.
All Afica games.
@Tony mash All Africa Games
Good luck to the boys. I have no doubt we will beat Botswana. But getting past Ivory Coast with the shambles our soccer is in. It will be a tall order.
Good question @Tony mash. Earlier on we were made to believe that the the teams who’ll qualify to the semis of the All Africa games would automatically qualify for the Olympics. It must’ve been a silly communication breakdown.
Senior Chipolopolo beaten? Mmmm… What were the startin line ups? What subs were made? I’m just thinkin…Why shud I go to Nkoloma on Sunday?
This king of a friendly is not being taken seriously . The big boy are instructed to avoid hard tackles n to allow strikers to have free shooting . Ok if the under seventeen were good enough to beat the under 23 why did the fail to beat the boys of there same age . Malawi wil be rosted
This is worrying now.how do they lose to u23?anyway,let’s hope we hummer Malawi wth nt less than 5-0
It won’t happen. It will be either a draw or a narrow 1-0 win for Zambia. And people will start insulting the team, FAZ and the coach as usual.
Shouldn’t be too concerned if our U-23 is stronger than Malawi senior team which I believe is the case.
Lord of Lords I come to you in the name of your son Jesus to deliver us from what we are going through,I pray that you make my brother Coach Janza to come to his senses and take the National team seriously and also pray for our association president not to control the team selection for his benefit in place of national pride,amen.
Achimwene will draw a lot of confidence in this result and know they have a fighting chance. We could be in for a very embarassing time at Nkoloma tomorrow.
I don’t think Zambia will beat Malawi by the big margin. This won’t happen. It will be either a draw or a narrow 1-0 win for Zambia. And people will continue insulting the team, FAZ and the coach as usual. The circus will continue. This is typical of Zambia. Before a given match, most soccer fans are excited and predict ridiculous results in favour of Zambia. After the match, it’s all misery and insults.
How old is Toaster Nsabata kanshi? To me, he has been around or maybe his talent was discovered early.
The Kenya U23 national team is out of contention for a place in the 2015 CAF U23 Championships to be held in Senegal as well as the 2016 Summer Olympics despite a 4 – 1 victory over Botswana U23 in the second leg of the first round qualifying match played at the Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday 9 May.
Kenya went into the game needing to win by three clear goals or at least avoid conceding but having settled on a 4 – 4 aggregate it is that time again when we start reflecting on what went wrong as the loss comes when the youth side is already out of contention for a place in the All Africa Games.
The visitors showed early intent in the game as Bogosi Kaekwa went close after latching on Kabelo Seakanyeng’s pass but Kenya keeper Ian Otieno did well to stop him from close range.
Ndinya booked
Kenya went on the attack immediately after that but it all ended miserably as Victor Ndinya was booked for diving after a feeble challenge in the Botswana box and moments later Collins Shivachi met David Gateri’s corner but his gliding header went just a tad wide.
Michael Olunga also went close with a header after connecting to Vincent Odongo’s 12th minute free kick but that too went wide and Olunga returned the favor, picking out Odongo who went for power and lacked precision, his attempt flying off target.
Olunga double
Olunga then got his angles right on the 19th minute after being set through by Jackson Macharia, shooting powerfully past Goitseone Phoko to open the scoring.
Barely had Kenya’s celebrations died down when Botswana restored parity through Oomatla Kebatho, scoring his third goal of the tie after being put through by Mpho Kgaswane.
Olunga, however, restored the lead on the 33rd minute with a tap in from Collins Shivachi’s cross to see Kenya U23 take the lead to the break.
Second half action
An enthusiastic start from Kenya in the second period met resistance from the visitors and ten minutes after the restart Lebogang Ditsele was booked for a foul on Stephen Wakhanya and two minutes later Vincent Odongo thought he had grabbed Kenya’s third goal but was flagged offside.
Head coach Bobby Williamson then pulled out John Nairuka and introduced John Ndirangu whose influence rubbed in immediately as he was well involved in a counter attack on the hour mark which ended in the Botswana keeper stopping Jackson Macharia’s well taken shot.
Ndirangu/Olunga effect
Ndirangu tested the Botswana keeper Goitsene Phoko on the 75th minute and the keeper once again came out tops but the custodian couldn’t do much three minutes later as the striker picked David Gateri’s pass and curled it beautifully past him for the third goal.
Olunga completed his hat trick deep in added time with a glancing header from Ian Otieno’s free kick to make it 4 – 1 four Kenya but the fight came a bit too late as the visitors held on in the added six minutes to secure a place in the second round where they will take on Zambia U23.
Teams
Kenya: 1. Ian Otieno (GK), 2. Collins Shivachi, 4. David Gateri, 17. Robinson Kamura (c), 5. Vincent Otieno (9. Harrison Nzivo 93’), 6. Stephen Wakhanya, 8. Vincent Odongo (10. David Kingatua), 7. Victor Ndinya, 14. Michael Olunga, 16. Jackson Macharia, 18. John Nairuka (11. John Ndirangu 57’)
Unused subs: 20. Robert Mboya (GK), 3. Brian Birgen, 15. Hillary Otieno, 12. Luis Tera,
Botswana: 1. Goitseone Phoko (GK) (c), 4. Mosha Gaolaolwe, 14. Kaone Vanderwesthuizen, 5. Bogosi Kaekwa, 11. Thato Kebue, 6 Lebogang Ditsele, 13. Letlhogonolo Senwelo, 7. Kabelo Seakanyeng, 2. Mpho Kgaswane (17. Gape Mohutsiwa 89’), 10. Karabo Phiri, 18. Omaatla Kebatho (9. Onkabetse Makgantai).
Unused subs: 16. Bophelo Kealeboga, 8. Emmanuel Machinya, 15. Thatayaone Ramatlapeng, 12. Obonwe Maome, 3. Kagiso Dithebe.
Cautions: 6’ Victor Ndinya (Kenya); 33’ Kabelo Seakanyeng (Botswana); 37’ Mosha Gaolaolwe (Botswana); 55’ Lebogang Ditsele (Botswana); 86’ Goitseone Phoko.
@ Sibs, haha I see my brother on the block, whatz up bro?
Somebody said that the Zambia pitches look brown on TV but are actually green and good when you watch at the stadium. This is a lie. SS cameras are of high standard and high definition. How come when you watching Nigeria league or Zimbabwe league their pitches look good and great? And this are the same cameras SS use in all the countries they are operate. The truth of the matter is that Zambian pitches are just PATHETIC and are not maintained due to poor working culture, backwardness and negligence.
it was punch who wrote that
@LeBron James. Hey my brother hoz it going? Keeping a low profile at times. Good to hear from you.
@Frank Nonde thanks for the update. So we will indeed play Botswana.