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2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers
Group H
Zambia v Lesotho
Levy Mwanawasa Stadium
Ndola, Zambia
Thursday, 23 March 2023
Kick-off is at 18h00
Zambia will battle it out with Lesotho in a
2023 AFCON qualification Group H match at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on March 23.
Current Form
Chipolopolo claimed a 2-1 win over Comoros at home in June 2022 as they bounced back to winning ways in the AFCON Qualifiers.
Zambia are undefeated in their last four matches at home in the AFCoN Qualifiers having recorded two wins and one draw at the hosts.
While Lesotho managed to hold Ivory Coast to a 0-0 draw at home in June 2022, but they are winless in their last two matches in the AFCON Qualifiers.
Likuena have a poor record on the road in the AFCON Qualifiers since 2006 having recorded five draws and 15 defeats as the visitors.
What Is At Stake
Zambia are placed second on the Group H standings - one point behind leaders Ivory Coast with four matches left.
Avram Grant's side will climb to the top of the standings if they defeat Lesotho and Ivory Coast fail to secure a win over Comoros on March 24.
Lesotho are placed fourth on the standings and a win over Zambia would see Likuena leapfrog Zambia.
Team News
Zambia will be without their former captain Enock Mwepu who was forced to retire from professional football due to a heart condition in October 2022.
While Lesotho held Malawi to a 1-1 draw in a friendly match at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe in February 2023 as part of their preparations for the games against Zambia.
Key Players
Chipolopolo will pin their hopes of defeating Lesotho on Leicester City striker Patson Daka who has scored seven goals in his last 10 matches for the 2012 African champions.
While Richards Bay centre forward Katleho Makateng is one of Likuena's dangermen having scored three goals in his last five matches for his country.
Quotes
“We have three days of sessions with local players,"Zambia head coach Grant said ahead of their matches against Lesotho.
"I saw many games in the league and this is the squad that I think is good but I want to see them myself in training. All my life I wanted to win. My target here is to try to win all the games
"But we will not win all the games. Our approach is to come to every game with the mindset of winning. In order to win we need to give good effort and play good football which is what we are working on.”
Head-to-Head
Zambia hammered Lesotho 4-0 in their last competitive meeting which was in June 2013 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Chipolopolo have never lost to Likuena in a competitive match - winning two matches and drawing two from four games.
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