Chipolopolo's World Cup dream

Qualification from the CAF region for the 2014 World Cup is set to be its most dramatic for years following the announcement that the five places will be decided in two-legged ‘finals.’ Only one of CAFs fifty-three affiliated national associations, Mauritania, has failed to enter the competition, qualifying for which begins in November this year when the lowest-ranked twenty-four teams take part in twelve, two-legged knockout ties. The winners of these matches and the region’s top twenty-eight teams (which currently includes Chipolopolo in 16th place, 89th in the world overall) will then be drawn into ten groups of four, the top team in each contesting the final round of games for a prized place in Brazil. The six, second round match days have been scheduled for:

1st – 5th June 2012
8th – 12th June 2012
22nd – 26th March 2013
7th - 11th June 2013
14th - 18th June 2013
6th – 10th September 2013

The five final stage ties will take place between 11th - 15th October 2013 and 15th – 19th November 2013.

All of this means that Chipolopolo face a potential eight matches if they are to reach the 2014 World Cup, the lowest number since qualification for the 1998 tournament. This is a sensible decision by CAF given that there will be African Nations Cups in successive years (2012 and 13) as that event moves to an odd-numbered year.

Dario Bonetti’s reign so far has created much optimism that Chipolopolo can qualify for their first World Cup Finals at the twelfth attempt. However, the fact remains that there are only five places available to African countries and that Zambia is currently placed 16th in the region. Therefore, we need to use the next two African Nations Cup tournaments (depending on qualification, of course) to improve our ranking within CAF and build a mentality and belief amongst the players that they can make it to world football’s biggest stage, Brazil 2014. In theory, Chipolopolo did actually finish in Africa’s top five at the 2010 Nations Cup, being the only side to lose on penalties (to Nigeria) at the quarter-final stage. Should we qualify for the 2012 edition, then I think that the aim should be to go one better and make the semi-finals at least and perhaps the final in 2013. Aside from World Cup qualification, there remains the fact that Zambia has never been champions of Africa. Could we possibly go to Brazil as Africa's best team?!

Zambia seals emotional victory

Zambia took a huge step towards qualifying for next year’s African Cup of Nations with a comfortable 3-0 win over Mozambique at Chingola’s Nchanga Stadium, in what was a fitting tribute to former Chipolopolo defender, Harrison ‘Wawa’ Chongo, who tragically died last month. This result, coupled with Libya’s surprise 1-1 draw with Comoros, means that Chipolopolo now lead Group C by one point with two games to play. Despite being without several key players through injury and suspension, Zambia cruised to victory with Christopher Katongo being the hero, giving the home team the lead in the 48th minute before scoring again mid-way through the second-half with a superb strike. Collins Mbesuma completed the scoring in the 71st minute with a neat finish. The Zambian team and coach Dario Bonetti wore black armbands in memory of the great Chongo, who was a defensive rock of the 1994 African Nations Cup runners-up team. He also played at the ‘96 and ’98 tournaments (Zambia taking the bronze medal at the former) before retiring from internationals in 2000. Chongo was signed from Mufulira Wanderers, whom he’d been with since the age of sixteen, in 1994 by Saudi Arabia’s Al-Tawoon. He spent the rest of his career with the high-profile club, despite attending trials with both Barnsley and Crystal Palace in England. He returned to his boyhood team as coach and it was actually at half-time during a Wanderers game that he was taken ill and subsequently passed away. He will be greatly missed by all Chipolopolo supporters as well as by football fans across Africa and the world.

Unfortunately the Zambia under-23 team will not be competing at next year’s Olympic Games after losing 2-3 on aggregate to Algeria in CAFs second qualifying round. The team faced an uphill struggle after losing the first leg 0-3 in Algiers, but fought back magnificently in Chingola with goals from Venicious Mapande and Derick Mwansa bringing them agonisingly close. Hopefully we will see many of these promising players coming through to the full national team in years to come.

Zambia team vs Mozambique: Kennedy Mweene, Kampamba Chintu, Francis Kasonde, Joseph Musonde, Stophira Sunzu, Thomas Nyirenda, Issac Chansa, Rainford Kabala, Christopher Katongo (William Njobvu 90’), Collins Mbesuma (Rodgers Kola 86’), Emmanuel Mayuka (Felix Katongo 83’)

Youngsters seek Olympic place

Zambia’s under 23 team continue their bid to reach the London 2012 Olympics next month with a two-legged match against Algeria in CAF's second qualifying round. Having already beaten Rwanda 3-0 on aggregate in the first round, Zambia now travel to Algiers for the first game on June 3^rd, the return being on June 18^th in Chingola. The winners will qualify for the final group stage where eight teams will compete for four qualification places.

     Zambia has competed in the Olympic football tournament twice before. At the 1980 games in Moscow they replaced Egypt who withdrew following the American-led political boycott and performed admirably in losing narrowly to Cuba (0-1) USSR (1-3) and Venezuela (1-2). Zambia’s greatest ever player and manager, the late Godfrey Chitalu, scored both his country’s goals in the tournament. The 1988 games in Seoul saw Zambia’s greatest ever achievements on the football field. After a 2-2 draw with Iran in their opening Group B game, the team then destroyed the mighty Italy 4-0 with a wonderful display of attacking football. Kalusha Bwalya, who was to finish as the tournament’s joint-second top goalscorer with six, led the way with a hat-trick, his namesake Johnson scoring the other goal. This scoreline was repeated in the final group match against Guatemala with Kalusha scoring a further two goals, a feat matched by his teammate, the late Derby Makinka. Kalusha’s performances in Seoul earned him a contract with reigning European champions, PSV Eindhoven.

     Zambia was eventually eliminated at the quarter-final stage by West Germany, for whom Jurgen Klinsmann scored a hat-trick, but their wonderful football was undoubtedly the highlight of the tournament and marked the country’s arrival on the world football stage.

Zambia vs Italy – Seoul Olympics 1988 (Italian commentary)

Chipolopolo secure vital away win

Zambia continued its African Nations Cup qualifying campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory over Mozambique in Maputo. A first half goal by James Chamanga was added to in injury-time by his replacement, Emmanuel Mayuka, the result putting Chipolopolo in second place in Group C behind leaders, Libya. The two are due to meet on October 7th in Lusaka in what is likely to be the group’s deciding fixture, the winners qualifying automatically for next year’s tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Should Dario Bonetti’s men finish in second place, they will then have to hope to be one of the best runners-up in qualifying groups A-J.  This route has been complicated somewhat by the withdrawal of Mauritania from Group F, making that now a three team group. This brings into effect the rule whereby teams finishing second in a group of four will only be measured by their results against those in first and third places (in Zambia’s case this is likely to be Libya and Mozambique respectively). This rule ensures parity for those teams coming second in a three team group, and means that Chipolopolo’s next game, the return fixture against Mozambique in Lusaka in June, is crucial. Zambia is currently the fifth-best second placed team behind Sudan, Kenya, Nigeria and Benin. Chipolopolo’s other remaining fixture is in Comoros on September 2^nd.
 

The win over Mozambique saw Zambia rise eight places to 89^th in the FIFA World Rankings, 21^st in the CAF region.

Zambia team vs Mozambique: Kennedy Mweene, Kampamba Chintu, Francis Kasonde, Joseph Musonde, Stophira Sunzu, Isaac Chansa, Rainford Kalaba, Noah Chivuta (Henry Nyambe Mulenga 60’), Christopher Katongo, Collins Mbesuma (Given Singulumu 69’), James Chamanga (Emmanuel Mayuka 69’)

 

Emmanuel Mayuka seals victory for Zambia