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’)
