Zambia Keep World Cup Qualifying Hopes Alive

The Chipolopolo gave a sparkling performance against Mauritania on Saturday to keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup alive.

Going into the game Zambia knew that nothing short of a win would be enough for them to stay in the running for qualification for Qatar, in what has turned out to be a finely poised and competitive Group B. 

And now, after this weekend’s results and ahead of the final round of qualifiers today, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea and Tunisia all remain in with a chance of progressing to the finals. 

Equatorial Guinea and Tunisia drew 1-1 in their weekend fixture, which opened the door for Zambia to remain in the conversation, provided they could dispense with Mauritania.

They made no mistake of that, winning 4-0 against Al-Murabitun, with Rangers striker Fashion Sakala scoring a hat-trick and Patson Daka scoring the other goal. 

Patson opened the scoring in Lusaka, chesting in a cross from Prosper Chiluya, before the Leicester City striker then turned playmaker to unselfishly set up Sakala for the second.

Fashion followed this up with a well-taken penalty, after Mauritania goalkepper Babcar Diop was adjudged to have fouled winger Evans Kangwa in the box, making it 3-0 before half-time.

24-year-old Fashion completed his treble just after an hour had been played, with a smart finish from inside the box, sealing an important victory for Chipolopolo. 

Zambia’s attention will now firmly be on this evening’s away fixture against Tunisia, who are leading the group on goal difference, three points ahead of Zambia. Meanwhile Equatorial Guinea travel to Mauritania.

Zambia need Equatorial Guinea to lose that game, whilst also beating Tunisia by a three-goal margin if they are to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. So there is still a significant final hurdle to clear, but this weekend’s performance gave them the best possible chance of progressing.