Chipolopolo Face Namibia In Final CHAN Group Fixture
Chipolopolo will today face the Namibian national team at the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which kicked-off on January 16 in Cameroon.
Zambia got off to a good start in the tournament last week when the team beat Tanzania’s Taifa Stars in their opening match 2-0. They went on to draw 1-1 against Guinea at the weekend.
Today’s Group D match will start at 2100hours and takes place in Limbe Stadium. As it stands qualification for the quarterfinals remains open, with three of the four teams still in the contest. Guinea leads the way on four points, with Zambia a close second on four points also but with a smaller goal difference. Tanzania is on three points and will face Guinea in their final Group match.
At the end of today’s matches the top two teams will qualify and be paired with Morocco and Rwanda for the quarterfinals.
Ahead of today’s match Zambia coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has reminded his troops that the battle is far from over with the brave Warriors of Namibia posing a challenge and has warned the team about complacency.
“We have no right to see in front of us an eliminated team (Namibia) because they are coming with pride and play for themselves. We need be fully focused that we are not playing an eliminated team but like we are playing a cup final before the final,” Micho has said.
“Only that mindset without complacency can bring us good result. Anything else is a huge risk and we know that that football is a game that will lead any direction. We have recently seen Liverpool and Burnley.”
He added: “We want to give respect to opponents and if we respect them, we have no right to underestimate them and be complacent and we will take them the more serious way performing to the standard demanded on the field of play.”
Meanwhile, Namibia’s coach Bobby Samaria has said that while his team is no longer able to reach the quarterfinals, they will play for pride against Zambia after back-to-back losses.
Chipolopolo will benefit from the return to fitness of Benson Sakala and Albert Kangwanda, which will increase the options available to Micho. Goalkeeper Allan Chibwe has also shaken off injury concerns to be ready for selection, according to Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) social media accounts.
Ahead of today’s match the Chipolopolo boys underwent their latest Covid-19 tests, which were doing their third tests at the tournament as part of the tournament regulations.
All the teams participating at the CHAN tournament are mandated to undergo Covid-19 tests 48 hours before each fixture.