THE Zambian national football team has departed for Yaoundé, Cameroon to face Chad in their second Group G match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The team is missing several key players, including injured Lawrence Mulenga and captain Clatous Chama, who has been excused due to family reasons.
The Football Association of Zambia announced that China-based Evans Kangwa has also “once again” left the camp, claiming a preference to return to his club.
Zambia’s midfield is also facing challenges, with Miguel Chaiwa nursing a potential injury after limping off in a recent match with hopes of a quick recovery.
Despite these setbacks, the Chipolopolo are determined to secure a positive result in Cameroon.
Meanwhile, Chad’s coach, Kevin Nicaise, expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance in the 0-0 draw against Zambia and believes they have a good chance of winning the reverse fixture.
The Chipolopolo drew with Chad to maintain second spot in Group G on four points. Table toppers Côte d’Ivoire annihilated Sierra Leone to go to nine points while Chad moved to third place with two points with the Leone Stars currently manning the bottom position with one point.
Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant said his team suffered from the ‘brutal’ and defensive play of Chad in Friday’s goalless match but was still optimistic of qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations as the team still had three more games to play.
“We have a lot of reason to be optimistic, I think if you take from the other teams so many players in one week plus your best striker before, not many teams can perform like this. We did it and it gives me a lot of encouragement that we can do it,” he said.
“Zambia does not have a big squad but we will find a solution, we will continue finding a solution. I am very optimistic because of what I saw today, what I saw against Sierra Leone, even against Ivory Coast, I think we have three games and after three games I think we will be in the Africa Cup.”
Zambia and Chad face off on Tuesday in Yaounde in the reverse fixture with Coted’Ivoire away to Sierra Leone who play in Monrovia.
By Moses Makwaya
Kalemba October 12, 2024
