Zambia might have been Sudan by a three goal margin, but Chipolopolo were certainly not always the better team.

Zambia were a bit lucky to get an early goal, thanks to excellent work from the South African-based striker James Chamanga, who replaced the suspended Chris Katongo up-front.

However, Zambia coach Patrick Phiri must also be complimented for fielding an attacking line-up with three strikers; Chamanga, Jacob Mulenga and Dube Phiri.

“We knew that Sudan was the team to beat in Group C,” Phiri reflected afterwards.

“Therefore, we desperately

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needed to win this fixture. During our 10-days training camp in Spain, we worked a lot on attacking and finishing.

“It all worked out nicely today. I started with three attackers because we wanted the three points.”

But while Zambia might have been threatening everytime when attacking, they struggled in midfield, which was mostly controlled by Sudan’s captain Haitham Mostafa, even though he wasn’t at this best.

But the Nile Crocodiles struggled defensively with the normally reliable Mohamed Ali Khidir having an offday.

Star striker Faisal Agab also showed very little, as well as his companion up-front Haitham Tambal.

“We probably lack a little bit of experience at the MTN Africa Cup of Nations level,” Sudan coach Mohamed Abdallah explained afterwards.

“We will learn from today. I’m an optimist and with two more games to go, everything is still possible.”

Abdallah also felt that, “We missed a lot of chances, while Zambia took the chances which were offered by us. Two goals came as a result of mistakes.”

That might be true, but Zambia always looked to have more purpose when in attack with a lot of off-the-ball movement from the strikers.

Chipololopolo coach Phiri admitted that, “We didn’t play as well as we could. Sudan dominated the midfield. Luckily, our defence kept cool and our goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene was excellent today. We’re not happy with our performance, but we’re, of course, happy with the win. We scored the goals today and that’s what counts in football.”

Zambia’s midfielder Ian Bakala added: “We will be better against Cameroon.” Nice words. Although Phiri is right when he states that, “Sudan is difficult to play against, as nobody really knows them.”

Sudan, however, now faces Egypt on Saturday which will be a do or die match for the Nile Crocodiles.

Sudan’s captain Mostafa didn’t sound totally convincing when he said afterwards: “Today was a tough match. I hope it will go better in the other games.”







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