Zambia went top of Group C after a convincing 3-0 home win over Mozambique at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola on Saturday in the two sides’ 2012 Africa Cup qualifier.
The Zambia players wore black arm bands in honor of former Zambia and Nchanga Rangers international Willie Phiri who died on Thursday in Chingola.
Zambia’s win ended a three match winless drought at Nchanga stretching back 10 years where Zambia recorded three successive draws against Namibia, Angola and Nigeria between 2001 and 2002 in World and Africa Cup qualifiers.
The first half finished scoreless on Saturday in which the star of the show was Zambia’s prodigal son Collins Mbesuma of Golden Arrows in South Africa who has found favor under Dario Bonetti.
Mbesuma blasted a thunderbolt free-kick in the 8th minute but it was parried on the right post by Mozambique goalkeeper Kapango.
Six minutes later, Mbesuma’s cross found Emanuel Mayuka but the striker from Young Boys in Switzerland failed to convert in front of an inviting goal.
On 20 minutes, Christopher Katongo threaded a pass through to Mbesuma but the Gold Arrows striker shot from outside the box.
Zambia survived a scare in the 27th minute from Mozambique striker Fransico Muchanga’s whose shot was kept out by Kennedy Mweene
Two minutes after the half-hour mark Christopher Katongo was denied the opening goal after referee Solomon Wokoma of Nigeria ruled it out for offside.
Seven minutes before the break, Mayuka exchanged a neat one-two with Mbesuma but the former shot flashed across the face of goal.
The floodgates for Zambia in the second half opened as early as the 48th minute with Katongo scoring his first of two goals.
Katongo rifled in the opener from the near right post from a flicked assist off the head of Mbesuma.
Four minutes later, Pelembe almost equalized but blasted his shot high and over from close-range.
However, Kapango was the busier of the two goalkeepers denying Rainford Kalaba from a 62nd minute’s free-kick before Katongo wrapped up his brace in the in the 68th.
Mbeusma was rewarded for his hard work good on the day with Zambia’s third after robbing a poorly cleared ball before saluting the crowed on his knees with arms stretched wide.
Zambia move to nine points from four games, two more than Libya who could return to the top of the table on Sunday away to bottom place Comoros.
Mozambique stay put in third place on four points from four matches played.
Zambia’s next game will be away to Comoros during the weekend of September 2-4 while Mozambique travel to Libya hoping to keep their now slim qualifying dreams alive.
Congratulations Zambia National Football Team for the win. Proud of you.
Well done boys!
The BBC carried a minute-by-minute update of the game and broadcast the results over 2 hours ago. Where were you LT?
who had the goal disallowed? was it Katongo or Mbesumas goal? BBC spoorts says it was Mbesuma n LT says it was Katongos goal..hmmmm. anyways congrats chipolopolo
I am happy for Mbesuma. Very few football players would go UP…then go to the BOTTOM OF THE GAME and then preciously UP ON THE GAME again. PLEASE STAY FOCUSED AS YOU KEEP ANSWERING YOUR CRITICS.
missed to watch all but the extra 5 minutes of the match. but anyhow . weell done
Collins thank you very much plz keep up with the good work and train with yo former team roan united as you await the begging of the psl season and win the golden boot for zambia again .
Hei, congas chipolopolo, well done.
wooooow well done guyz.exactly as DJ dazo predicted in the morning he said we will win 3-0 and mbesuma being one of them to score.iyeeee chipolopolo.come and join me for kwazi beer
It’s about time we got back to wining ways.
Chipolopolo,chipolopolo,chipolopolo,chipolopolo.Where is RenarD?
What pipo must know is that restoration of BA of 1964 will end up with secesstion which is really dangerous for Zambia.You should be very careful what you want to restore.Zambia is a unitary state including western province.Why cant sure the relatives of Mr sata tell him that the issue of BA should not be the campaign strategy for Western province.The litunga is a respected figure in western province including the president.The president does consult him on many issues which i feel is enough.Even Mr sata will fail this country if separates Western province from Zambia.What will happen is that Western province will be called Barotseland and Copperbelt province will be called Western province.That was how it was before.We need footballers in Western province not restoation of Barotseland Agr
Well done ba chipolopolo boys….
This is sports#12! Restoring what? Stop it manyukunyuku fela! One Zambia One Nation. Well done Zambia National Team!
Well done Zambia National Team, all supporters and fans who travelled to Chingola and stayed behind glued to TVs and radios, screamed and jumped with joy when our players attempted, showed their skill and scored goals.
Let us play the national building block of general elections in the same spirit of winning for us all, all of us- One Zambia, One nation.
No. 12. Whats in you sick head?…
what !! Chipolopolo won…….. Its a campaign move by MMD to hoodwink us. Ni pa bwatoo fye. LOL. Mwandini congrats ba Chipolopolo. U have made us proud.
Congrats Zed. Happy to see Mbesuma do his thing. And I’m glad te back on LT after a long long time. For those who would like to see the last two goals, got to youtube and use “zambia mocambique dois e tres golos” as the search term. Cheers!
Thanks # 18 I was able to look at the goals.
# 18 thanx..i have seen the goals.keep up.
congrats to chipololo and all the supporters we ar on the way to 2012
Well done boiz. What a befitting way show respect to that legend late Willie Phiri at hiz home Nchanga (Gabitas) Stadium!
#18 Thanks for the info, it iz really showing.
#19, 20 and 22,You are welcome.
#12 are you SAD or MAD?
WELL NDONE SAMBIA
AT LEAST THE POOR PIPO OF ZAMBIA HAVE SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT. AS A FAILED STATE IN SIMILAR RANKS AS SOMALIA & ZIMBABWE, FOOTBALL GIVES SOME SOLACE TO OUR POOR COUNTRY.
i think we , zambians are in the right path , nd we are goin somewhre thnx to mbesuma he is a great dude. sv