Zambia arrive with COSAFA-winning squad

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Thursday July 25, 2013 00:00

Chipolopolo have a date with the Zebras on Saturday in a 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier at Molepolole Sport Complex.

Herve Renard's charges regrouped at Lusaka's Cresta View Hotel on Monday evening with only two additions to the team that beat Zimbabwe 2-0 in Saturday's COSAFA final. The team had broken camp on Saturday after winning the regional tournament.The only two additions to the Chipolopolo squad are Nkana striker, Evans Kangwa and ZANACO defender Salulani Phiri. Kangwa returns to the fold for the first time since December 21, 2012 when he came on as a substitute in Zambia's 1-0 away friendly loss to Tanzania.

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) communications manager, Erick Mwanza confirmed that apart from the inclusion of the duo, Renard had maintained the same squad that won the regional tournament. 'This game is very important because we want to qualify for the finals in South Africa,' Mwanza added.

Meanwhile coach Stanley Tsoshane believes his Zebras will ride on home-ground advantage to beat the former African champions.  The troubled mentor said he was eager to qualify for the CHAN finals and he is confident his charges can beat Chipolopolo. 'We will give the best against Zambia. We want to get a comfortable win and we will take advantage of the fans to beat Zambia.

We are ready to give them a good game,' he said.When the two sides met in the 2009 CHAN qualifiers, Chipolopolo knocked out the Zebras 3-1 on aggregate but Tshosane believes his young charges can upset the visitors this time.

His only headache is the groin injury to Gaborone United striker, Tebogo Sembowa. The two sides will face each other in the return leg on August 3 with the winner advancing to the final round of the qualifiers against either Zimbabwe or Mauritius. The CHAN finals will be held in South Africa in January.