Zambia’s shootout tale at the 2019 COSAFA Cup continued on Wednesday when they eliminated defending champions Zimbabwe in the semifinals 4-2 on post-match penalties following a 0-0 draw at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
It was the second successive time that Zambia advanced via penalties after beating Malawi by the similar margin in the quarterfinals on June 2 following a 2-2 result at fulltime.
Tandi Mwape, Jack Chirwa, Mwila Phiri and Bruce Musakanya all flawlessly converted for Zambia.
However, Khama Billiat’s penalty was saved by Zambia goalkeeper Sebastian Mwenge while Admiral Muskwe fired wide for Zimbabwe.
It was a game of chess for most of the 90 minutes although Zimbabwe goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze was the hero , first denying Lazarus Kambole’s breathtaking volley in the 18th minute.
Chipezeze then ensured justice was served when Zambia were given soft penalty in the 40th minute that was a clear ball to hand by Teenage Radebe.
Austin Muwowo confidently stepped up to take spot-kick but Chipezeze made sure there would be no goal number two for the Forest Rangers striker.
Meanwhile, Zambia will now face Botswana in the final on June 8 in Durban and now chasing a fifth title that will move them one closer to record six-time champions Zimbabwe.
Botswana beat Lesotho 2-1 to reach their first final since 2016 and set up their first of two meetings with Chipolopolo over the next 60 days.
Zambia and Botswana will meet again at the end of July in a 2020 CHAN second round qualifier.
Kikiki
We definately finished in soccer, Cosafa making headline like kaya kaya! Lets do Africa Cup & World Cup. Thats why even corrupt *****s like Kalu are still showing their faces in Soccer circles because they want us to over look their & focus on the small achievement, which they failed to achieve as a & coach. So Kamanga, take our soccer to serious heights or you follow Kalu & retire
Let’s roll
Ata nefishili fyaku lola
Congratulations guys!! We salute you
Football standards have gone so low that watching the Zambia National team always becomes a nightmare. It’s no longer chipolopolo iyeeee but……….
But they beat Zimbabwe who have qualified to the Africa Cup.
Congratulations boys! Even so the Aggrey Chiyangi assembled team is not the best Zambia can provide, but yet they performed beyond expectations against Zimbabwe whose team is playing in the AFCON 2019.
My advise: Botswana’s Zebras is no longer the whipping boys. I urge Chipolopolo to remain focussed and resilient in the final. Allowing Zebras to score first will be a disaster. It is often very difficult to equalise against Botswana.
Good luck and make us proud again.
Good performance guys,go ahead in the next game
Good, “lets roll boys!” … kikikikiki
Ata nefishili fyaku Lola
Nalilandile elyo bambi abalamba utunwa balefunkaula amasele, I know because in 2012 it was the same eventhough Cosafa is a small Cup but I know Chipolopolo. Where are those basket-full mouths of insults ni ndwiiiii ala tondolo musuma!
Where does this negativity come from? Is this a political platform?
That game was not an easy one. The team looked very organised all round.
Well done boys.
After beating the Warriors the COSAFA cup is going to be easier (I’m not saying easy)
Wait and see you might be new on the blog and not well exposed some of us have been following these issues on the net since 2004 and when we talk about negativity we are not politicking, Harve Renard was insulted before He delivered the AFCON. Aggrey was also stripped to the core after the Malawi Game. I for one have never liked Zambian politics but truth told most Zambian people are negative, docile and naive. I am also proudly Zambian and I love my Country these general traits have led us into hardships we are going through now.
KWISA BAPELA IMPIYA ABAICE TATULEFWAYA ATI SHANISHANI.
CONGRATS BOS YOU PLAYED BETTER THAN THE WAY ZAMBIA PLAYED AGAINST MOZAMBIQUE IN MOZAMBIQUE AFCON QUALIFIERS WITH PROFFESSIONALS.
PERIOD.
THANKS GUYS SO MUCH IMPROVEMENT IN LAST NIGHT GAME MAKE SURE YOU BRING THE CUP HOME WERE IT BELONGS CONGRATS
It’s the final score that counts. I stopped watching Arsenal because their beautiful game has not brought them anything for the last 14 years.
Any way the boys were timid at first but slowly they gained composure. Zimbabwe had assembled all its elite players but they were held by the armature boys.
I salute you boys and work hard so that you bring the cup home.