By CHISHALA MUSONDA
AFTER whacking Lesotho a week ago, Zambia are again expected to come out guns blazing today as they seek to tighten the grip at the top of Group D when they take on a wounded Sudan in what is a grudge 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifier.
Leading the group on 10 points, the Chipolopolo have to keep up the pace over the Black Stars, who are on nine points and play their qualifier against Lesotho in Maseru tomorrow.
At the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Sudan are expected to be in an uncompromising mood as they aim to avenge the boardroom decision that cost them three points after beating Zambia for using an ineligible player.
Sudan, who beat Zambia 2-0 in the opening World Cup qualifier, featured a suspended Saif Ali in that game before the world governing body, FIFA, overturned the result in favour of Zambia.
The docked points were awarded to Zambia, dealing a knock-out punch to the Sudanese.
The Sudanese are now out of contention but they promised a tough encounter today.
Coach Mohamed ‘Mazda’ Abdalla said upon arrival in Lusaka on Wednesday that Zambia would not have it easy against his side.
“There are no easy victories or small or big teams. We will play a good game even if we are out of the competition [World Cup qualification],” he said.
Abdalla has brought with him a youthful but determined side and which is built around playmaker Ali.
Zambia skipper Christopher Katongo says the team is ready and that there is no way the Sudanese can triumph today against a determined Chipolopolo side.
With coach Herve Renard expected to field the same striking partnership that demolished Lesotho seven days ago, Katongo will lead the ship and conquer the Secretary Birds.
A victory will push Zambia to 13 points before going for the final group game in September against Ghana, the other nation also fighting for a place in the next round of the World Cup qualifying campaign.
Collins Mbesuma, Zambia’s most lethal finisher, will again be given the mantle to lead in attack alongside Jacob Mulenga.
Sudan goalie Ehad Zoghber is expected to have a very busy afternoon.
The pair will be in central attack with Katongo on the right and playing slightly behind Mbesuma and Mulenga while on the left Noah Chivuta is expected be more active in midfield to give support to the creative Mukuka Mulenga and deliver crosses from the left.
James Chamanga, Emmanuel Mayuka and Bornwell Mwape are the other attacking options among Renard’s reserves with Fwayo Tembo coming to provide the needed fire-power on the flanks.
But the Zambian strikers will have to be at their best and efficient to outdo Hassan El Taher, Kamal Amir, Abdalla Ahmed and Mohamed Malik in the Sudan rearguard.
In an attacking formation, the exciting Mukuka can easily weave his way past the opponents and provide for the attackers as he will be well covered by the hard-working anchorman Nathan Sinkala.
With Ali the marksman for Sudan, the gifted midfielder will give support from Ali El Noor and Nazar Hamid in a bid to contain the Zambian side hungry to carry three points.
At the back, Renard has faith in Hichani Himonde and Kondwani Mtonga in central defence with the versatile Chisamba Lungu operating on the left and Davies Nkausu on the right.
With Kennedy Mweene’s return in goal, the Sudanese are bound to have it doubly difficult to get any goals.
It is expected that the Sudanese will rely on swift counter-attacking to try to shock the Chipolopolo as they did in Khartoum a year ago.
Tahit El Mudather, scorer in the 1-3 loss to Ghana, Siddiq Saeed and Abdallah Mohamed cannot be underrated.
Probable line-ups:
Zambia: Kennedy Mweene, Davies Nkausu, Chisamba Lungu, Kondwani Mtonga, Hichani Himonde, Nathan Sinkala, Christopher Katongo, Mukuka
Mulenga, Collins Mbesuma, Jacob Mulenga and Noah Chivuta.
Sudan: Zoghber Ehad, Hassan Taher, Kamal Amir, Mohamed Malik, Ali El Noor, Abdall Ahmed, Saif Ali, Hamid Nazar, Mohamed Abdallah, Siddiq Saeed and Tahir El Mudather.
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