Zambia has maintained its second position in Group G of the
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers after a 1-0 victory over Chad in their return leg in Cameroon.
The Chipolopolo Boys secured the win thanks to a late goal from Kennedy Musonda in the 70th minute and a crucial penalty save by Toaster Nsabata. This victory has significantly boosted Zambia's chances of qualifying for the continental tournament.
The Chipolopolo boys delivered a stronger performance compared to their first leg against Chad in Ndola on Friday, despite missing five key players: Stopilla Sunzu, Lubambo Musonda, Edward Chilufya, Lameck Banda, and Patson Daka. Additionally, goalkeeper Lawrence Mulenga and midfielder Miguel Chaiwa were injured during the first leg and did not feature in the return match.
Coach Avram Grant expressed his happiness with the victory, acknowledging the challenges faced by the team due to the absence of key players. Grant praised the team's performance and emphasized the importance of remaining focused for the upcoming matches.
"This is one of the most satisfying wins we've had because of the circumstances we've had to play under," Grant said.
"We're in a good position, but we still have two games to play and we need to win in order to reach our target (qualify for AFCON) for the second time in a row because I think we deserve it."
Zambia currently sits second in Group G with 7 points, trailing leaders Ivory Coast by 2 points. Sierra Leone is third with 4 points, while Chad is at the bottom with 2 points.
The Chipolopolo Boys will have a crucial opportunity to close the gap on Ivory Coast when they host them on November 11. A victory in that match would put them in a strong position to secure qualification.
Zambia will then face Sierra Leone away on November 15 in their final group stage match. A win or a draw in that game would likely seal their place in the 2025 AFCON tournament.
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