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By Yaadika N Chama,

Jacob Mulenga (L) and Joseph Musonda (R) Zambia National Team

After a weekend of drama which included the unfortunate shooting of the Togolese National Team kicked off with a high scoring opening match between host country Angola and Mali in Group A.

With Angola leading the match 4-0 with 15 minutes to go Mail, powered by Spanish La Liga stars Seydou Keita and Frederic Kanoute made the score line respectable by scoring four goals to earn an unlikely draw for their team to end the match 4-4 on Sunday night.

This was followed by the upset of the tournament so far when Malawi, the lowest seeded team at the Africa Cup beat World Cup bound Algeria 3-0 to go on and top Group A. This was Malawi’s first appearance since 1984 and their first win in the Finals ever.

Group B now comprises of three teams since the withdraw of Togo namely Ivory Coast and Ghana who are both going to the World Cup, and lastly Burkina Faso.

This means that the teams will only play two matches each to progress to the next stage. In the first game of the Group Ivory Coast was held to a goalless draw by a stubborn Burkina Faso. The players observed a minute of silence for the three people killed in Friday’s gun attack on the Togo team bus.

Ivory Coast had all its big guns on the pitch in the likes of Didier Drogba, Solomon Kalou, Bakari Kone, Emmanuel Eboue and the Toure brothers Kolo and Yaya, failed to breakdown the determined Burkinabe defence.

In Group C Mozambique and Benin encounter ended in a 2-2 draw. This was after Benin took a 2-0 half time lead after totally dominating the first half. However, in the second half The Mambas of Mozambique came out fighting and scored two goals in the second half. This draw maintains the unwanted records of both teams of never having won a match in the African Nations Cup Finals.

The next match in this group saw two time defending champions Egypt come from behind and beat the world cup bound Nigeria 3-1 in a thrilling match.

The second upset of the tournament took place in Group D where tournament favourites Cameroon lost 1-0 to Gabon. Hull city striker Daniel Cousin took advantage of a defensive lapse to score the only goal of the game. This was in a game which Cameroon dominated but failed to score in.

The second match of the game was between the copper bullets of Zambia (Chipolopolo) and Tunisia. Zambia took the lead through a sweeping move forward which saw Jacob Mulenga open his account for the competition.

Tunisia equalised in what was their first attack at goal in the 39^th minute. Zambia will most surely be disappointed with this result especially after dominating the game and seeing a late header from substitute Emmanuel Mayuka ruled out for offside.

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By Yaadika N Chama, 

Zambian breweries yesterday presented K250 million to Chipolopolo for qualifying to the Africa Cup of Nations which kick-off in Angola on Sunday. 

The Cheque was presented at a press briefing at football house in Lusaka by Group Marketing Manager Leonard Kawanu.

Mr. Kawanu said it was with great pleasure that he made the announcement and show of the continued sponsorship to the team. 

He said the Zambian Breweries Group was presenting a cheque of K250 million as part of the K4 billion sponsorship contract through the Mosi brand signed with the Football Association of Zambia in 2009. 

He further said the company was delighted with Chipolopolo’s qualification to the tournament. He expressed confidence that the Herve Renard drilled side would pick positive results in Angola. 

Mr. Kawanu encouraged Chipolopolo to work hard and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to fulfilling the K400 million pledge if the team hoists the trophy.

Mr. Kawanu also stated that Mosi had pledged to pay on top of the basic amount K250 million for qualifying to the final phase of the Africa Cup of Nations, K400 million for winning the Africa cup and another K400 million if the team had qualified to the world cup. 

The three year contract with FAZ ends in 2012. He said there was obviously going to be a review because Zambia didn’t manage to qualify to South Africa. We have to focus on 2014 and this is a long term relationship which has to be cherished. 

FAZ representative Julio Chiluba thanked Zambian Breweries saying the incentive would motivate the team.

Yesterday Zambia held Nigeria to a goalless draw in a preparatory match played behind closed doors in South Africa. They will play their last friendly before the tournament on Saturday against South Korea. Zambia is in Group D of the Africa cup of Nations alongside four-time winners Cameroon, Tunisia and Gabon. 

Meanwhile former FAZ General Secretary Machacha Shepande has been appointed as Africa Union (AU) Commission Senior Sports Officer. In a letter of appointment dated December 29^th 2009, Mr. Shepande is expected to take up his appointment in March.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Shepande was serving as Director of Research and Planning at the Supreme Council for sports in Africa which is currently in transition pending dissolution.

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By ZamChro Correspondent

National soccer team striker Collins Mbesuma improved his chances for a place in the final team for the Africa Cup of Nations when he scored in a friendly against Mozambique at Saps ground in Johannesburg yesterday.

Largely considered excess luggage, Mbesuma, who last scored for Zambia in the 1-1 draw against Chad in 2007, latched onto a Rainford Kalaba pass and finished with a flourish in the 73rd minute.

Kalaba capitalised on a loose ball in the centre and found Mbesuma with a splitting pass. Mbesuma, whose career has had many twists, did not let coach Herve Renard down.

“They pushed more men up-front in the second half and in the process they made a lot of mistakes and Kalaba capitalised on that mistake for Mbesuma to score.”

“Afterwards, we tried to push forward but we could not get more goals,” assistant coach George Lwandamina said from Johannesburg yesterday.

Renard used the usual suspects in his starting line-up, with goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene, defenders Joseph Musonda, Emmanuel Mbola, Stopilla Sunzu and Chintu Kampamba.

Thomas Nyirenda and Isaac Chansa were in midfield while Christopher Katongo and Clifford Mulenga were the two wingers, with Jacob Mulenga and James Chamanga in central attack.

In the second half, Renard introduced Kalililo Kakonje for Mweene, Hichani Himoonde for Kampamba, Francis Kasonde for Nyirenda and Noah Chivuta went in for Chansa.

Others who were introduced are Kalaba for Christopher, Felix Katongo replaced Clifford, Mbesuma was unleashed for Chamanga and Given Singuluma took over from Jacob.

Mozambique, who are also preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations, are in Group C with Benin, Egypt and Nigeria.

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By ZamChro Report

Speculation over the status of Zambian National team coach Herve Renard has been cleared.

Renard expressed happiness and said it was now time to focus on the Angola 2010 Orange Africa Cup of Nations.

FAZ President Kalusha Bwalya over the weekend said that Renard and the entire current bench would take the team to Angola.

The uncertainty came about after FAZ Vice President said that they would be changes to the Zambia technical bench.

Renard goes back to work today when the team begins preparations for the tournament that begins on January 10^th.

Meanwhile, William Harrington, Chipolopolo Soccer Fans Association patron urged FAZ to be transparent in the manner in which they handle matters of national interest.

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By ZamChro Correspondent

Lionel Messi, on Monday, became the first Argentine to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award.

The accolade came after the playmaker won four major titles with Barcelona — the Champions League, the Club World Cup, La Liga and the King’s Cup.

“This finishes a magnificent year for Barcelona, my team mates and for me,” said Messi after receiving the trophy from UEFA president and former France international Michel Platini.

The other players on the shortlist were last year’s winner Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Portugal, former winner Kaka and Messi’s Barcelona team mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

Messi was leading scorer in the Champions League, scoring nine goals including one in the 2-0 win over Manchester United in the final. He also notched the extra-time winner in the Club World Cup final against Estudiantes on Saturday.

The award, introduced in 1991, is voted by the coaches and captains of the national teams.

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By ZamChro Correspondent

National team coach Herve Renard says Zambia fails to win international tournaments because players lack mental strength.

Renard, who was speaking at the Lusaka International Airport soon after arrival, said Zambian players should be mentally strong if they are to withstand pressure.

The Frenchman said the team also failed to beat Zanzibar because they were not psychologically strong.
He said there is need to prepare players adequately before travelling to Angola for the Africa Cup of Nations that kicks off on January 10.

“The players are not mentally strong. Sometimes you can see even in training but I can’t change everything. We have to be like Cameroon or Nigeria,” he said.

Renard said he did not expect the team to come back yesterday because they were confident of reaching the final of the competition.
He said players must improve mentally because skill alone is not enough to win them medals.

“It was the easiest quarter-final draw we could get in CECAFA and maybe we lost because players were over-confident and thought it will be easy for them,” Renard said.

Zambia, who won all their games in the group stages, were on Monday booted out of the competition when they lost 4-3 on post-match penalties to little-known Zanzibar in the quarter-finals.

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By ZamChro Correspondent

Zambia on Friday beat Angola by 3 goals to 1 to storm the semi-finals of the 2009 Metropolitan COSAFA Under-20 championships in a tightly contested encounter played at the Eldorado Park Stadium in Johannesburg.

Madagascar are Zambia’s opponents in Sunday’s semifinals set for the same stadium after they beat the Seychelles 2-0 in another quarter- final played yesterday.

South Africa’s Amajita are set to play either Zimbabwe or Botswana in the other semi-final.

Second half late goals from substitutes Chakwa Lungu and Kangwa Chileshe were enough to ensure that Zambia’s quest to win the youth championship remained on course despite the Angolans posing a threat earlier in the match.

Zambia had to play Angola twice as they were the only two teams in group D after Mauritius withdrew and with coach Honour Janza having won the opening match 2-1, his boys needed to avoid a defeat of more than two goals to advance.

But it was Angola who after a barren but closely contested first half broke the deadlock in the 50th minute through Henrique Marcio’s powerful shot from the edge of the penalty box. He finished off a wonder cross from Joao.

Zambia equalised in the 59th minute through Stephen Kabamba header after connecting a Moses Siansumo pin-cross giving Angola keeper Pedro no chance to keep it out and continued pilling pressure obviously motivated by the goal.

Lungu doubled Zambia’s lead in the 85th minute after sneaking a low shot inside the box from an Evans Musonda powerful pass while Chileshe made sure the Angolans were buried and forgotten when he tapped in an easy cross in the 90th minute.

Musonda could have given Zambia the lead but his shot just missed the goal by inches in the 64th minute from a long range effort as the game started getting physical going by the tackles that started to flow.

Zambian goalkeeper Joshua Titima was called into action to make a stunning save to deny Bernado Silva in the 70th minute after his curling free-kick looked to be destined for goal.

Angola made a substitution in the 71st minute in search for a goal bringing in a striker Abilio Afonso Mabanza for defender Jose Moises and Titima again made a wonderful save after he parried a Bernado Silva free kick to force a corner in the 78th minute.

The first half started on a fast note with the Angolans threatening at goal through Daniel Satonho but his curling shot went wide, this was after a foul by Christopher Munthali on Veloso Fortunato in the third minute.

Kabamba’s shot in the 22nd minute was easily saved by Angolan goalkeeper Sanda Pedro while Joao shot way off target six minutes later after connecting a terrific pass from Miguel Quiami.

Zambia made a change in the 35th minute introducing Kangwa Chileshe for John Ching’andu, who seemed to have recovered from his injury but the pain caught up with him again.

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By ZamChro Correspondent

The Zambia Under-20 squad on Monday started the Council of Southern Africa Football Association (COSAFA) youth championship campaign on a bright note by defeating Angola in the opening match played at Rand Stadium in Kimberley, South Africa. Zambia won the game by 2 goals to Angola’s 1 and only goal.

The junior Chipolopolo made their intentions known in the early minutes of the match when Steven Kabamba struck home a fifth minute goal to unsettle Angola.

Zambia defended their early goal all the way to the half time whistle for Angola to trail at half time.

The junior Palancas Negras came back a rejuvenated side and it was not surprising when they restored parity five minutes into the second half.

Evans Musonda put Zambia back in the lead in the 55th minutes after he received a left wing cross to ensure the junior Chipolopolo’s dominance of the game before the final group match on Friday.

The COSAFA Youth Championship is being defended by South Africa who thrashed Namibia 9-0 in their opening group A match.

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By ZamChro Correspondent

South African President Jacob Zuma, who is in the country for a three-day State visit, has urged African teams that have qualified for next year’s World Cup to take up the responsibility of ensuring that the trophy remains on the continent.

He said this at State House yesterday during official talks he held with President Banda.

“You would have watched the spectacular final draw of the 2010 FIFA soccer World Cup in Cape Town last weekend. We made an undertaking during that exciting event that the World Cup will not, and must not, leave the African continent,” he said.

Zuma said all African teams have a responsibility to ensure that the continent achieves the goal of lifting the title currently held by Italy.

He said Europe and the Americas are not unbeatable because with determination and thorough preparation, Africa will show them what it is made of.

Zuma said South Africans are looking forward to welcoming all soccer-loving fans and visitors during the tournament, which kicks off on June 11.

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By ZamChro Correspondent

Chipolopolo have been knocked out from this year’s CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup after receiving a beating at the hands of Zanzibar via a 4-3 margin on post-match penalties in a quarterfinal match played at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.

The two teams were level at 0-0 at the end of fulltime before heading into the lottery of the penalties.

Chipolopolo successfully converted their penalty kick through Thomas Nyirenda, Kennedy Chola and Luka Lungu.

Defenders Charles Siyingwa and captain Dennis Banda missed Chipolopolo’s last two spot-kicks to see Herve Renard’s side bowing out of the tournament

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