Zambia score late to defeat Comoros and get AFCON qualification campaign on track
Zambia showed character to earn a come-back 2-1 win over Comoros in their second group game of the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers played at Lusaka’s National Heroes Stadium this evening.
A superb free-kick scored by midfielder Klings Kangwa in the 88th minute was enough to see the Chipolopolo Boys claim all 3 points and ensure that the hosts end match-day 2 of the AFCON qualifiers group stage level on points with Comoros.
The victory was Zambia’s first competitive win under Croatian trainer Aljoša Asanović, putting behind the 3-1 defeat suffered to Cote d’Ivoire in the opening qualifying fixture.
Despite starting the brightest, Zambia fell behind to an early goal scored in the 13th minute by Comoros’ El Fardou Ben Mohammed following an apparent lapse in communication between Zambia’s goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata and defender Tandi Mwape.
Shaken by the early goal, Zambia threatened with striker Fashion Sakala forcing Ali Ahamada in the Comoros goal into saves with two attempts.
Ahamada stretched to his fullest length to make a wonderful fingertip save to deny Sakala in the 20th minute.
Nine minutes later, Edward Chilufya, who had a lively first half, saw his stinging shot kept away by Ali for a Zambia corner.
Zambia continued to attack and came close to levelling the scoreline two minutes from the break but Lubambo Musonda saw his left footed shot from distance strike the woodwork.
The Copper bullets finally got the equaliser on the stroke of halftime when captain Enock Mwepu scored a delightful goal after controlling the ball with his chest following a rebound from a corner.
Shortly after the restart, Zambia nearly scored from a corner kick with the Comoros keeper saving the initial header as well as denying Frankie Musonda a home debut goal from the rebound.
Zambia’s vulnerability in defence continued to show with The Coelancanthes nearly scoring again in the 57th minute after Kassim M’Dahoma’s attempt was tipped over the crossbar by Nsabata.
Matters worsened soon after as the Chipolopolo Boys lost experienced left wing-back Rodrick Kabwe to injury forcing the technical bench into visible panic.
In the 64th minute, Patson Daka nearly scored the winner when he beat off his maker before seeing his low strike at the keeper’s near post pushed away for a corner.
With the winner seemingly eluding the Copper bullets, substitute Kings Kangwa got the match winner two minutes from time to save the day for the Chipolopolo with a stunning free-kick from the edge of the box which beat unmoved Ahamada to the rapture of the home crowd!
Following the win, Zambia joined Cote d’Ivoire and Comoros on three points on the group standings. Cote d’Ivoire will take on Lesotho in their second group fixture.
Zambia tackle Lesotho in back-to-back fixtures in the next round of Group H matches in September.
Zambia starting XI
Toaster Nsabata, Frankie Musonda, Tandi Mwape, Lubambo Musonda, Fashion Sakala jnr, Enock Mwepu (c) Emmanuel Banda (Klings Kangwa 61’), Roderick Kabwe (Lameck Banda 57’), Edward Chilufya (Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba 79’) Patson Daka, Shemmy Mayembe
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