By FAZ Media
ZAMBIA faces Seychelles this afternoon at Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban hunting for a vital Group B victory in their final preliminary stage game that can push them to the semi-finals.
The defending Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup champions are still playing catch-up in Group B despite securing their first three points of the competition on Sunday when they clinched a 2-1 win over Comoros in a must-win encounter after losing 1-0 to Malawi on match day one.
Zambia is second on three points following that win over third-placed Comoros who also have three points.
But Zambia remains behind Group B leaders Malawi who maintain a tight grip on affairs after beating Seychelles 2-0 in Sunday nights late kickoff to maintain their one-hundred start to the competition.
Coach Moses Sichone has rallied his troops to go into the encounter wounded and seeking an outright win.
We anticipate a tough match but our target is to get an outright win and score many goals to stand a better chance of progressing to the next round. Seychelles are a good team and we shall not underrate them. We approach the game with the seriousness it deserves. We have spoken to the boys and they understand what is at stake heading into this game, Sichone said.
We would have loved it if the boys had a day off but the arrangement does not allow. We just have to adjust and be psychologically ready. We have a plan and what remains is for the boys to apply themselves and fight for Mother Zambia.
Only the top three finishers in the three groups, 12-time competition, and the best overall runner-up advance straight to the semi-finals of this year’s revised format of the COSAFA Cup.
Sichone said the onus is on them to do the needful and hope it will be enough to see them through to the July 14 semi-finals.
And midfielder Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba said the team was wary of
what fans expected against Seychelles.
The morale among us players is high after the win against Comoros. We know what fans are expecting us to do. It will be a tough game, but we are equal to the task and shall not let the country down. The Comoros victory is water under the bridge, we are focused on Seychelles and the target is to get as many goals as possible looking at how things are going in all the groups, said Kampamba.
The most important thing is not to underrate any team at this competition, we need to stick to our game plan. I think we understand what is at stake if we want to progress. We shall do it for Mother Zambia.
Sichone is likely to maintain the same starting line with Lawrence Mulenga in between the sticks while Killian Kanguluma, Mathews Chabala, Samson Mkandwire, and John Chishimba will complete the back four.
Kelvin Kapumbu, Fredrick Mulambia, and Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba are expected to provide cover to the defenders and ensure a smooth transition into the attack, while Abraham Siankombo, Albert Kangwanda, and Moyela Libamba are expected to lead the attack.
