Sports / Soccer
Zimbabwe Warriors stun Chipolopolo
25 Aug 2013 at 08:36hrs | Views
Zimbabwe players sing and dance in the changing room after defeating Zambia on Saturday. Picture: Regis Tsikai
Zambia 0 - 1 Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe qualified for the 2014 African Nations Championship (Chan) after a sensational second leg 1-0 victory over Zambia at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday.
FC Platinum midfielder Charles Sibanda scored the all-important goal on 63 minutes to silence the noisy 20 000 crowd in the Copperbelt.
Zimbabwe put up a solid performance and executed a smash-and-grab mission to qualify for their third Chan finals.
The victorious coach Ian Gorowa paid tribute to his players, especially to central midfielders Danny Phiri of Chicken Inn and Dynamos' Devon Chafa for restricting the Zambians.
Although Chipolopolo enjoyed most of the possession in the first half, they found an unyielding Zimbabwe defence, led by captain Jaure and Eric Chipeta.
The normally elusive Bruce Musakanya and Alex N'gonga were restricted every time they tried to work their magic in the Zimbabwe third.
On the few occasions Chipolopolo were able to break the Zimbabwean lines they found a stumbling block in George Chigova.
Chipolopolo were made to rue all that unproductive possession when Nelson Maziwisa robbed captain Bronson Chama in his own half.
Maziwisa spotted the run of Platinum teammate Sibanda before sending in a perfectly weighted cross.
Sibanda finished with aplomb, beating Manyau with the outside of his left boot to completely silence the home crowd.
The Zambians brought some urgency into their play after conceding but they were once again restricted by the disciplined visitors' defence.
Zimbabwe had chances to kill off the tie when on two occasions on the counter Masimba Mambare and Milton Ncube found themselves in good positions.
The two Highlanders players wasted both chances to ensure more anxious moments in the dying stages of the match.
Chipolopolo, however, failed to find an equaliser and succumbed to their first defeat at this newly commissioned stadium.
Herve Renard says Zambia did not deserve to qualify for the 2014 CHAN after a shoddy performance in the return leg of the final qualifying round against Zimbabwe in Ndola.
Renard's team failed to qualify for CHAN after losing to Zimbabwe 1-0 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday.He said the home based Chipolopolo squad has no excuse for failing to beat Zimbabwe in Ndola.
"Firstly, congratulations to the Zimbabwean team. I think we deserve what we produced on the pitch," Renard said.
"There is no excuse we drew in Zimbabwe 0-0, we were stronger there but today we were not ready to fight to qualify Zambia for CHAN," he said.
Renard described Zambia's first loss at Levy Mwanawasa as a shame. And the Frenchman again hinted that he may leave his Chipolopolo top job next month."It's a shame and I don't know if I will play another game in this stadium so it's a shame."
Zambia failed to qualify for the last CHAN held in Sudan in 2011-a year after minting bronze at the first edition.
Teams
Zambia: Danny Manyau, Bronson Chama, Christopher Munthali, Fackson Banda, Jimmy Mulilo (Kabaso Chongo, 66min) Thomas Nyirenda, Rodrick Kabwe, Alex N'gonga, Bruce Musakanya, Festus Mbewe (Moses Phiri, 45min), Bornwell Mwape (Evans Kangwa, 73min).
Zimbabwe: George Chigova, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Milton Ncube, Partson Jaure, Eric Chipeta, Devon Chafa, Danny Phiri, Ali Sadiki (Masimba Mambare, 58min), Donald Ngoma (Felix Chindungwe, 88min), Nelson Maziwisa, Charles Sibanda (Tawanda Muparati,79min).
Zimbabwe qualified for the 2014 African Nations Championship (Chan) after a sensational second leg 1-0 victory over Zambia at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday.
FC Platinum midfielder Charles Sibanda scored the all-important goal on 63 minutes to silence the noisy 20 000 crowd in the Copperbelt.
Zimbabwe put up a solid performance and executed a smash-and-grab mission to qualify for their third Chan finals.
The victorious coach Ian Gorowa paid tribute to his players, especially to central midfielders Danny Phiri of Chicken Inn and Dynamos' Devon Chafa for restricting the Zambians.
Although Chipolopolo enjoyed most of the possession in the first half, they found an unyielding Zimbabwe defence, led by captain Jaure and Eric Chipeta.
The normally elusive Bruce Musakanya and Alex N'gonga were restricted every time they tried to work their magic in the Zimbabwe third.
On the few occasions Chipolopolo were able to break the Zimbabwean lines they found a stumbling block in George Chigova.
Chipolopolo were made to rue all that unproductive possession when Nelson Maziwisa robbed captain Bronson Chama in his own half.
Maziwisa spotted the run of Platinum teammate Sibanda before sending in a perfectly weighted cross.
Sibanda finished with aplomb, beating Manyau with the outside of his left boot to completely silence the home crowd.
The Zambians brought some urgency into their play after conceding but they were once again restricted by the disciplined visitors' defence.
Zimbabwe had chances to kill off the tie when on two occasions on the counter Masimba Mambare and Milton Ncube found themselves in good positions.
The two Highlanders players wasted both chances to ensure more anxious moments in the dying stages of the match.
Chipolopolo, however, failed to find an equaliser and succumbed to their first defeat at this newly commissioned stadium.
Herve Renard says Zambia did not deserve to qualify for the 2014 CHAN after a shoddy performance in the return leg of the final qualifying round against Zimbabwe in Ndola.
Renard's team failed to qualify for CHAN after losing to Zimbabwe 1-0 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday.He said the home based Chipolopolo squad has no excuse for failing to beat Zimbabwe in Ndola.
"Firstly, congratulations to the Zimbabwean team. I think we deserve what we produced on the pitch," Renard said.
"There is no excuse we drew in Zimbabwe 0-0, we were stronger there but today we were not ready to fight to qualify Zambia for CHAN," he said.
Renard described Zambia's first loss at Levy Mwanawasa as a shame. And the Frenchman again hinted that he may leave his Chipolopolo top job next month."It's a shame and I don't know if I will play another game in this stadium so it's a shame."
Zambia failed to qualify for the last CHAN held in Sudan in 2011-a year after minting bronze at the first edition.
Teams
Zambia: Danny Manyau, Bronson Chama, Christopher Munthali, Fackson Banda, Jimmy Mulilo (Kabaso Chongo, 66min) Thomas Nyirenda, Rodrick Kabwe, Alex N'gonga, Bruce Musakanya, Festus Mbewe (Moses Phiri, 45min), Bornwell Mwape (Evans Kangwa, 73min).
Zimbabwe: George Chigova, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Milton Ncube, Partson Jaure, Eric Chipeta, Devon Chafa, Danny Phiri, Ali Sadiki (Masimba Mambare, 58min), Donald Ngoma (Felix Chindungwe, 88min), Nelson Maziwisa, Charles Sibanda (Tawanda Muparati,79min).
Source - online
