ZAMBIA striker Jacob Mulenga (second from left) celebrating his goal during yesterday’s 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifier against Sudan at Ndola’s Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. On the left is James Chamanga, Christopher Katongo, Kondwani Mtonga and Nathan Sinkala. The teams drew 1-1. – Picture by CHANDA MWENYA.
HONE LIWANGA and CECILIA ZULU report:
ZAMBIA coach Herve Renard says the Chipolopolo will not give up the fight of qualifying for the 2014 Brazil World Cup finals.
Renard said at a press briefing at Ndola’s Levy Mwanawasa Stadium yesterday that the 1-1 draw with Sudan is frustrating.
He said Zambia will go to Ghana to fight for an outright win to ensure qualification to the last round.
“We didn’t put enough pressure on Sudan the way we did on Lesotho in our previous qualifier. We are very frustrated by this draw. We just need to win in Ghana,” Renard said.
He said Zambians will be cheering Lesotho today when they take on Ghana.
“We hope Lesotho can play like Sudan tomorrow [today]against Ghana,” Renard said.
Zambia skipper Christopher Katongo said the Chipolopolo did not play well in the first half but improved in the second stanza.
Katongo saluted fans for supporting the team and promised not to disappoint them in the last match against Ghana in Kumasi on September 8.
Sudan coach Mohamed ‘Mazda’ Abdullah said he was happy with the result.
“This is a fair result for us,” Abdalla said.
He said his team did not come to Zambia to aid Ghana to qualify to the last round but expose new players to international football.
Sudan captain Sail Idris said the match was tough.
Meanwhile, Football Association of Zambia president Kalusha Bwalya is confident the Chipolopolo will qualify to the last round.
Kalusha said Ghana will fall in front of their fans.
“I am confident that we will go through to the next round. We will go to Ghana to beat them,” he said.
He described the game against Sudan as tough.
Kalusha said there is no need for Zambians to worry ahead of the match against Ghana.
The 1988 African-footballer-of-the-year said everything is possible in football.
Minister of Sport and Youth Chishimba Kambwili said Zambia played well but lucky was not on their side.
“The game was okay but I don’t know where we went wrong,” Kambwili said.
Zambia striker Jacob Mulenga said the game was tough-adding that he has already shifted attention to the match against Ghana.
Mulenga said Zambia has a chance to salvage victory in their crucial match against the Black Stars.
“My focus now is on our next game against Ghana. It won’t be easy there but our chances of qualifying for the World Cup are still bright,” said the Netherlands-based forward.
Another striker Collins ‘King David’ Mbesuma said the draw against Sudan is disappointing.
Mbesuma said they did not expect Sudan to hold them at home.
“We need to prepare adequately for our next game against Ghana. We’ll go to Ghana to prove ourselves that we are a better team by winning. We have beaten Ghana before so they are not a threat to us,” Mbesuma said.
In the last one year, Zambia has beaten Ghana twice – winning 1-0 apiece in the semi-finals at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and in the 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifying race.
Chipolopolo Soccer Fans Association chairman Yotam Mwanza described the draw as frustrating.
Mwanza, however, remained hopeful that the Chipolopolo will deliver a desired result in Kumasi.
He said fans are hoping that Lesotho defies the football hierarchy today by beating Ghana.
“We are hoping that Lesotho will do us a favour by drawing or beating Ghana. That will at least put us in a better position as we look forward to our next match,” Mwanza said.
Zambia lead Group D with 11 points, two better than Ghana. Sudan and Lesotho have two points apiece.
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