Ex-Zambia and Nchanga Rangers defender Elijah Tana believes Zambia will hold their own against Senegal when the two teams clash on January 21 at the Africa Cup.
Zambia and Senegal will clash in both sides opening Group A game this Saturday in Bata.
Talk ahead of the match has been of Senegal striker Demba Ba and whether Zambia’s defenders have the capacity to stop him.
This follows his well-documented free scoring exploits in the English Premiership where he is number 2 on 15 goals for Newcastle this season.
“We have capable players who can play against Senegal,” Tana said.
“You know at every Africa Cup you hear of such stories that this team is the best on paper.
“But you see from experience I have seen big stars fail to performance at the Africa Cup.
“But I have confidence in them we should be scared just because Ba is in the team.”
Other teams in Group A are Libya and co-hosts Equatorial Guinea.
Tana was until the end of the 2011 Super Division season assistant coach at Rangers.
well said tana that is the spirit
Good words from Icipondo not Gift Kampamaba, imbushi ya muntu ilya. Zambia ll do better,if the favourites Ghana also drew 1 all wth South Africa, then Zambia has a future.
IF MESSI CAN FAIL TO DELIVER AT ARGENTINA WHO IS DEMBA BA TO SCARE THE COPPER BULLETS,BA WILL DANCE TO ZAMBIAN PELETE COME SATURDAY
I agree. I saw the team announcement on ZNBC last night. Herve Renard has gone for a very strong defence, heavily parked mid-field and a NOT very strong striking force. Remember if you cannot score, you cannot win.
The defense no doubt about it is strong but we lack strikers.
zambia chipolopolo
Good words Tana, yuo saved zambia well. I am an ardent follower of footbally and media hype or too muchj attention on the clud is already a danger. Senegal may have household names but the fact that they are going as one of the favourites is a negative for them, they will bot on the spot light and may fail to live up to expectations.
I alos know Zambian football well, our boys are known to deliver when you least expect them to do so. If we can score early against Senegal or prevent them from scoring early we can either win that game or force a stalemate. My major worry is on teams like Libya and the Guinea tem. The fact that we played Libya during the qualifiers means that they understand us well and can spring a surprise on us. Equatorial Guinea, we could make a mistke of underating!!!
This is the confidence we require and not being negative all the time. I dont understand why the coach is not using Jonas Sakuwaha to add fire power to the striking force????
Does anyone know why Tana has been dropped at Nchanga Rangers? Who can guess???
Bane Senegal nakwata deadly striking force..All their strikers we watch on TV , ba Zed you are counting 8 SA based players , namusangonshi..our game has not lived upto expectations for a while.While I must admit on the balance of play ,we display good football , good football without knowing where the net is , is pointless..Lyonse ni we played well..labish
Well spoken Tana.Every player should emulate Mupa who doesnt fear big names on the pitch.Lets sort out Senegal and shame our critics.Go Zambia Go
Its saturday, 21st Jan, 23hrs zambian time.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If they score first, we will get disorganised and they will carry the day, if we score first or contain them towards the end, the game is in our favour. So Renhard’s strategy of a strong defecne is a good one, we can hit them on counter attack, Kalaba is sharp and you just need a clinical finisher like the boy Mayuka or indeed Sakuwaha, I have little confidence in Mbesuma and Chamanga, they dont seem to think very fast for my liking, sorry thats just my view!!!
What more do we need…this is a perfect opportunity to slap the so called favorities…we said ta…a bullet for Senegal!
where do we place bets? My money is on Zambia.. I think the team is well prepared. We have midfielders that can score in Kalaba, Chivuta etc, even defenders and goal keeper.. Kennedy never misses penalties. We may have 4 strikers but most guys are capable of scoring… One game at a time… Come saturday..
The AFCON will often reveal new playerz while the so called high profile starz just struggle to perform due to pressure. LT lackz investgative sports reporterz who will leave the Tana/Brave Rangers story hunging like that.
Tana is correct..Ba plays good because he also plays with players that are a collection….A club is a collection of good players mostly,Tana won’t perform the same when he plays for Senegal
Am abit behind with the prediction of the line up.i know long time ago I could predict players like chabala,soko zambia, changwe…. to the last player.Do we have such ,these days and particularly this team?
Ma rubbish zambia shud just withdraw other than embarrassing us