Southern Africa powerhouse Zambia face Namibia in the quarter finals of the 2018 Cosafa Cup in South Africa on Saturday.
It’s been five years since Zambia won the Cosafa Cup title and that came in a 2-0 triumph over Zimbabwe on home soil.
In all competitions, Zambia has drawn and won once against Namibia while the Brave Warriors have registered four victories.
This will be the third meeting at the same stage in the last four years and in the previous two, the Brave Warriors have been victorious.
In 2015, on their way to clinching the regional tournament, Namibia beat Zambia via a 5-4 penalty triumph after the match ended in goalless in regulation time.
A year later, captain Ronald Ketjijere’s goal was enough to send Namibia to the last four for a second consecutive year.
Without Namibia in 2017, Zambia reached the finals for a record 9th Cosafa Cup final appearance but the then Wedson Witson Nyirenda coached suffered a defeat to Zimbabwe.
Turn to 2018, Namibia stand in the way again!
While Zambia has a new coach Beston Chambeshi in charge, Namibia has maintained the flamboyant Ricardo Mannetti.
Honour Janza (2015) and George Lwandamina (2016) failed to go past Mannetti’s Brave Warriors.
In Morocco, Zambia needed a Lazarous Kambole equalizer to cancel out an Absalom Limbondis goal as Wedson Nyirenda’s men halted the Chipolopolo Boys’ run of defeats against the South West neighbours.
This weekend’s tie will also act as a dress rehearsal for Cameroon 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifier in September.
Both Zambia and Namibia lost to Mozambique and Equatorial Guinea on matchday, therefore that AFCON qualifier in Windhoek will be a must win for either side.
With Nyirenda on his way to Baroka FC, Chambeshi has stepped in as a caretaker.
The former Under-20 coach Chambeshi who guided Zambia to the quarter finals at the FIFA World Youth Championship in Korea is renowned for his attacking football.
Chambeshi, who is assisted by Zanaco coach Numba Mumamba, is expected to start with Toaster Nsabata.
The Zanaco goalkeeper has had an in different campaign after suffering a slump in form.
While the likes of Fashion Sakala, Emmanuel Banda, Patson Daka, Enock Mwepu, Augustine Mulenga and Justin Shonga were being touted as possible inclusion, none of them made the trip to South Africa.
In the absence, it will be a new look Chipolopolo with the trioz Isaac Shamujompa, Collins Sikombe and Jackson Chirwa as the only survivors.
Shamujompa is expected to partner captain Ziyo Tembo in central defence while Shemmy Mayembe and either Boston Muchindu or Bornwell Silengo at left back.
Chirwa, Sikombe, Clatous Chama and John Ching’andu will start in midfield while Lazarous Kambole and Sate Sate will be the twin towers upfront.
Should Chambeshi switch to three man midfield, then expect either Ngosa Sunzu or Larry Bwalya to slot in.
Zambia Probable XI: Toaster Nsabata- Shemmy Mayembe, Ziyo Tembo, Isaac Shamujompa, Boston Muchindu – John Ching’andu, Jack Chirwa, Ngosa Sunzu, Clatus Chama – Lazarous Kambole, Sate Sate
My hart was under my feet, i thought the game was today. Its game own 2moro. Go zambia go.