Zambia visit Lesotho in a 2014 World Cup Group D qualifier in their first competitive match since their 2013 Africa Cup flop.
Herve Renard’s team desperately needs a win in Maresu on Sunday to revive some much needed confidence after their embarrassing group stage exit in South Africa last January.
Renard’s side currently enjoys a three point lead in Group D on six points, ahead of second placed Ghana who host third placed Sudan in the late kick off on Sunday in Kumasi.
Lesotho are bottom of the group on one point after drawing 0-0 with Sudan on June 10, 2012 to pick up their first point in the qualifiers.
The hosts coach Leslie Notsi believes his team is ready to extend that unbeaten Group D record against another big gun this weekend.
“Our record at home has been great since we started preparation for FIFA tournaments we have beaten Burundi and Sao Tome and Principe and Sudan came we drew now Zambia and three points is coming our way,” Notsi said.
Sundays meeting will be Zambia and Lesotho’s ninth meeting that has seen the former winning only twice out of their five visits to Maseru and where they also suffered their first defeat on post-match penalties in the 2000 COSAFA Cup quarterfinals.
Sundays game has also come with a selection headache for Renard who has basically has only one experienced striker with competitive fitness heading into this game.
Emmanuel Mayuka has not played this year for Southampton, Chris Katongo has just returned for preseason in China leaving Collins Mbesuma as the only tangible striker heading into the match in Maseru.
But Renard has options therewith the recall of Romanian-based striker Fwayo Tembo who is enjoying a revival of fortunes after three forgettable seasons to-and-from Tunisia and Switzerland.
Fitness problems too abound in midfield where Isaac Chansa has not played since January.
Rainford Kalaba, Nathan Sinkala and Jonas Sakuwaha first real taste of competitive action was last Saturdays CAF Champions League with TP Mazembe in their 1-0 away win over Mochudi Centre Chiefs in Botswana.
Victory in Maseru is essential in the midst of those fitness concerns to keep Zambia top of Group D on nine points just an hour before Ghana’s game against Sudan.
Yes, Zambia will iondeed conquer Maseru no doubt about it!
indeed.
Word of advice to our strikers: Strikers score because they are good at what they do, and what strikers do is to trick and beat their markers ( defenders) and then score. Strikers should not only score when they are not marked – ati first defender apuse elo njingishe ninshi uli ikula!, so, guys we want a result that will uplift us after the AFCON humiliation, pleaaaaaase!!
What about Jacob Mulenga
Kill the game guyz
Yes they will definitely conquer Maseru mountain like L/stone seat…but UPND muppets should forget conquerin Muchinga escarpment
You don’t have to turn everything into politics. Just focus on the topic being discussed here. There is a place for politics but this is soccer guys, yaba!
Zambia 4 Lesotho 0. Ghana 2 Sudan 2
Zambia is definately qualifying to the world cup 2014,I chipolopolo wining this with big margin.mayuka ubalase
Goals, Boys, No Playing around. We want true chipolopolo Goals. GO BA ZAMBIA GO.
As long you are not in possession of the ball you cannot play it and score. So we should always FIGHT for the ball upfront and not just wait & hope for the opponent to make a mistake. If as a striker you fail to score, it should be coz of an extraordinarily good goalkeeper that keeps saving, than failure to break through the opponent’s defence. Then you’re not a striker!
Good luck Mighty Zambia.GOD BLESS IFIPOLOPOLO.
Zambia ti win, hahaha, are we all from Chainama Mental Hospital. It has been draws and draws and yet we continue to dream ub pu ba ba fi kala, mwe mb wa mwe, mwaba utu ma to le. India to help Zambia with the rail system, bo ko lwe ba mwe nye banina pa mulu ya ma stima and yet it is them to help Zambia? Satana and his corruption, time will come for you
Iyo naiwe @ bwaima ili wansele ma to leh yobe, why dont u clean your mouth for once?
Iwe mbuli leka insele.
1-1 ba Zambia
Very disappointing, Fima draw sure everywhere? Naba Lesotho abapwa??? Chipolopolo whats going ON? 1-1 AGAIN??
Lesotho beat Cameron in Maseru remember.
Fibole. Draw na Lesotho teti mufwe ne nsoni
what a coach..
substuting a man who is a danger to the opponents?
lets look for a coach …. and very fast.
Who was substituted? I just got the results. Not pleasing at all.
I think the coach must resign. If he doesn’t he must be fired
The coach ba wishi we all know what is wrong but we have to wait for the lifting of Kalu’s imunity then we will progress. Anyway Sudan are leading by 7-0 and Lesotho used an eligable player the who scored, 3 free points for the id iots