Chipolopolo shoot back on top

September 4, 2011 | Filed under: Breaking News | Posted by:

The Chipolopolo of Zambia regained leadership of Group C of the qualifying series for the 2012 Nations Cup after a 2-1 win over Comoros in Moroni on Sunday. Libya took temporary leadership of the qualifying pool on Saturday following a 1-0 win in Cairo, Egypt, over Mozambique. However, Zambia are back on top of the pile after the late win in Comoros.

They have 12 points from five matches, a point ahead of the North Africans. Mozambique are third in the standings with four points, while Comoros are bottom on a point. Zambia could now qualify for next year’s tournament proper in fine style next month as they host Libya in their final qualifying fixture.

The Libyans won the reverse game 1-0 last October. On Sunday, Chris Katongo got Zambia going after 23 minutes, but the home team restored parity on 32 minutes through Yousouf Mchangama. Emmanuel Mayuka, a second-half substitute for Collins Mbesuma, gave Zambia a hard-earned victory with his match winner two minutes from time. “Man, we won one tough game!” Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene said in a post-match interview from Comoros. And he was right.

It wasn’t easy. This was not the same Comoros whom they trounced 4-0 exactly a year ago on September 5 at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka. Comoros looked ready and obviously propelled by their 1-1 draw with Libya in June. Zambia’s attacking trio Collins Mbesuma, Christopher Katongo and James Chamanga were shackled by some mean Comoros defence.

Comoros also refused to sit back and rattled Zambia’s defence with waves of attack several times in the first half. Respite for Zambia arrived on 23 minute through Katongo who blasted in a shot after bulldozing his was through a forest of Comoros defenders. However, Comoros replied 10 minutes later through Yousouf Mchangama who made a powerful run from outside the box to plant the ball past Mweene to see the two sides go 1-1 into the break. Zambia came back strongly after the break but still could not find inroads as Comoros this time sat back to absorb the pressure.

The visitors’ most significant effort of the second period came from Mbesuma in the 50th minute. Mbesuma powered with the ball from halfway through Comoros on half into the box releasing it for unmarked 46th minute substitute Fwayo Tembo, but the FC Basel striker failed to read his intentions. That was Mbesuma’s last major contribution to the game and he was replaced by Mayuka of Young Boys in the 65th minute. Comoros held on despite Zambia looking recharged with the substitutes. But Mayuka still had the last laugh virtually with Chipolopolo’s last wave of attack in the 88th minute when he finished off a rebound shot from Chamanga.

Super Sport

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29 Responses to Chipolopolo shoot back on top

  1. This is the kind of news one needs to heare, away from politics and sex tapes….

    Hinets - December 14, 2011
    15:46

  2. ا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله (lā ʾilāha ʾillallāh, Muḥammad rasūlu-llāh) (in Arabic)
    There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God. (in English

    paddy UK - September 16, 2011
    12:43

  3. thank you for the 3 points. We certainly have a lot more work to do. I’ve not seen any marginal impact that Bonetti has contributed to our team. Players are tactically unguided and evrything is left to chance. Well done boys but can you please up you game so that we are very confident of going beyond the AFCON 2012. The target should be RIO-Brasil. This is the reason why we are already flying the Brasilian and Zambian Flags. G.B.F.C. Go Boys, Fight and Conquare.

    KaneleBull - September 8, 2011
    15:21

  4. we need mo of such spirited fights from ur beloved chipolopolo, even if the game gets tuff & ur energy levels begin to dwindle, we still need to dig deep & rise to the occasion. Late goals depict a deep desire to win, lets keep it up bwoys consistency is key. job well done. Gabon here we come!!! the spirits of ur fallen heroes will be wit us till we lift dat coveted trophy…. lets believe! chipolopolo eye! chipolopolo eye!

    zizou - September 7, 2011
    13:57

  5. Job well done boys.kip up the spirit

    james - September 6, 2011
    05:04

  6. @nafuti nafuti I jst dnt undrestand idiots lyk u y y y ar u guy pleaz we ar not interested in rb the baga. Iz goin back kufamu stop politikin incase u ar lost this iz a sports edition am sure aaeee.

    rupia nibwezeni kufamu banda - September 5, 2011
    13:23

  7. GOOD JOB YOUNG MEN, YOU HAVE ALL THE FIRING POWER, PLEASE MAKE USE OF IT

    PIKO - September 5, 2011
    09:26

  8. chweeeechweeeeechweeeee rb is really working hard, we are even wining football!!!!! nowander rb is also wining come september 20 pankoloko, nafuti nafuti!!!!!!

    ba sata - September 5, 2011
    08:59

  9. Well Done Chipolopolo….

    The Ginx - September 5, 2011
    07:36

  10. What is important is to score and win. This is exactly what the boys did. Learn to appreciate hard work!

    Chakolwa - September 5, 2011
    06:22

  11. Some bloggers yah. Just say we won rather than start politicking. Had we lost eyeee katwishi. Concluts the chipolopolo guys. Keep it up and we shall chew Libya at the new stadium. Hands up for Bonneti and Great Kalu. Abash Simatta squared.

    TJ Akapondo - September 5, 2011
    06:08

  12. It was a boring game without action or sparks

    sakalanyongo - September 5, 2011
    02:27

  13. COME ON BEAT BETTER TEAMS,THIS WAS A TRAINING SESSION

    citizen - September 4, 2011
    23:20

  14. Congratulation Guys !!! Well done !!! Cheers !

    But back to serious stuff – only a few days left before the 20th

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO) has said Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata’s debt of close to US$30 million to the Taiwanese Green Party explains the opposition leaders’ desperation for power.

    Sources from the opposition party revealed last weekend that Mr Sata was under pressure from the Taiwanese Green Party to pay back about $30 million he had obtained to finance his election campaigns in 2006 and 2008.

     
    Committee of Citizens executive director Gregory Chifire said in Lusaka yesterday that Mr Sata’s reckless borrowing of money showed his desperation for power.

    “It actually shows that he is only interested in enriching himself, he uses the Zambian people as collateral to obtain loans.

    “This should serve as a wake-up call to the Zambian people that he is not interested in moving this country forward. His quest for power is not about the people but himself,” Mr Chifire said.

    He said it was wrong for the PF leader to use the country as a mortgage to obtain loans, and expressed sadness that a person aspiring for the highest office in the land was engaging in deceitful behaviour.

    “He wants to sell the country to the highest bidder. Just imagine what would happen if by mistake he became president?” he said.

    Relevant Links
    Southern Africa
    Zambia
    Debt
    On Sunday, former PF secretary general Edward Mumbi confirmed that the PF leader had obtained a lot of money from the Taiwanese, which he used to finance the 2006 and 2008 campaigns.

    Mr Chifire also challenged Mr Sata to state whether or not he told former United Transport and Taxis Association chairperson Willie Nsanda that his father was a Tanzanian and that he would help the Chimwemwe Member of Parliament (MP) change his identity to that of a Tanzanian.

    Mr Nsanda, who is now PF’s chairperson for transport, was on November 15, 2001 quoted in the Times as having revealed that Mr Sata had approached and requested him to mobilise 600 men from bus stations to cause country-wide riots after second Republican president Frederick Chiluba left him out and picked the late president Levy Mwanawasa as MMD’s presidential candidate.

    Poor PF supporters being used by your ” King Cobra”

    DON’T KUBEBA – To take everything I can – shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii – don’t tell anyone our secret !!!!!

    Onbehalf of the poor people - September 4, 2011
    21:22

  15. CHWE CHWE CHWE CHWE CHWE CHWE CHWE CHWE CHWE CHWE CHWE CHWE CHWE CHWE
    THAT IS THE WAY TO GO YOUR EXCELLENCE. WE NEED THE POWER STATION AT ITEZHI TEZHI. DO NOT LISTEN TO ARM CHAIR CRITICS. THAT POWER STATION WILL GO A WAY TO ELEVIATE LOAD SHEDDING AND WILL BRING DEVELOPMENT TO OUR PEACEFUL COUNTRY OF ZAMBIA.
    MY PLEA IS THAT WE SHOULD VOTE WISELY. VOTE FOR RB. VOTE FOR MMD. NI PA NKOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EPELA.

    nafuti nafuti - September 4, 2011
    21:08

  16. That is good results, better than ARSENAL.

    Kafunda Mention - September 4, 2011
    20:25

  17. Congrates boys and everybody that was involved in bringing victory we dearly need! However, more hardworking must be done if we are to emerge the best at the show piece next year. Much needs to be done. Some players looked tired already. E.g katongo and kalaba. The midfield was wanting. Blavo guys even though. We can make it to the top and we will . Lest l forget. Why is the coach not calling Cliford Mulenga who is good in form in S.Africa? Please,the power that be let the chap be called. Thank you.

    Osmuka - September 4, 2011
    20:12

  18. Well done. I did not the match though. The KK11 of yesteryear never struggled with small teams like Siulapwa’s party. Anyway ni Soccer

    Galileo Galilei is back! - September 4, 2011
    19:52

  19. FAZ Chief Hails Three
    Points Haul And A Fantastic
    Footballing Week In Zambia
    The Football Association of
    Zambia (FAZ) president,
    Kalusha Bwalya, has hailed
    the Chipolopolo’s maximum
    points haul against the
    Comoros; describing the
    result as good and one which
    firmly puts the Chipolopolo
    on the road to the 2012
    Africa Cup of Nations
    finals.
    Kalusha said the win was
    important as it took Zambia
    back to the top of Group C
    with just one round of
    fixture to play before the
    conclusion of the qualifying
    race to the 29th edition of
    Africa’s soccer show-piece
    which kicks off on 21st
    January in Malabo,
    Equatorial Guinea. The final
    is scheduled for 12th
    February in Libreville,
    Gabon.
    A goal from skipper Chris
    Katongo and a late strike
    from Swiss based striker
    Emmanuel Mayuka secured
    the Chipolopolo all three
    points as a reconstituted
    (10 players of which play in
    the French League) and
    determined Comoros team
    tried to hold on to what
    would have been a shocking
    but prestigious point
    against their highly rated
    and favourites Zambia.
    Said Kalusha: “We knew the
    game would be tough because there are no easy games and Comoros were determined to do well.
    Football is played on the pitch and not on paper. So it is a fantastic result because it takes us back to the top of the group and keeps destiny in our own hands. We rely on ourselves to qualify and that’s very important. We need to congratulate the team on the win and begin to prepare for Libya. I am sure that Dario Bonetti will have noted any weaknesses and will take time to work on them before that final match.” Zambia’s final qualifier match is at home to Libya on 8th October.
    The Chipolopolo need only a draw to qualify. But the Chipolopolo will be expected to go for an outright victory. RT- TUMFWEKO.COM

    escz - September 4, 2011
    19:50

  20. DONT BLAME THE COACH,SOME MIDFIELDERS WERE NOT OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE FOR THIS MARCH

    LOZIMAN - September 4, 2011
    18:41

  21. There is no difference beween the way govt and chipolopolo works. When hope is lost a goal comes and when people hav chamged minds, hurried development is done.

    Ted junior - September 4, 2011
    18:41

  22. They ave done well. But we expectd mo goz coz coms z a small team.

    Tbag j - September 4, 2011
    18:38

  23. FINE FIGHT,OUR MID FIELD HAD A SMALL HOME WORK,MISSED CONTROLER.
    ITS GOOD MISSION JOB ANCOMPLSHED.

    LOZIMAN - September 4, 2011
    18:37

  24. Interesting.We the fans are just expecting hardwork from the national team so that we can bulldoze Libya and for Gods sake end on top of the group this time around

    Eugene Jr. - September 4, 2011
    18:31

  25. that was poor display by our boys…the team was totaly not coodinated in midfied. I wounder why we camp our local players who do not even in take part in da games.

    etframs - September 4, 2011
    18:29

  26. This result is not impressive.Am not sure we have the right man in charge.

    Chanda Malama - September 4, 2011
    18:19

  27. Thats great news.keep it up lads..consistency is key.

    shoket 47 - September 4, 2011
    18:14

  28. Well dan tho tht wasnt expctd of u guys! U need 2 pul up yo socks nex tim

    Malas - September 4, 2011
    18:12

  29. Well done boys!

    Ridge - September 4, 2011
    17:57