New Zambia coach Avram Grant is pleased with his team’s response after they returned from a goal behind to upset visitors Lesotho in their 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Thursday.
The Chipolopolo got off to a winning start under Israeli coach Grant, defeating Lesotho 3-1 in their Group H opener in Ndola.
The visitors took the lead after 33 minutes, with Tshwarelo Bereng scoring from a free kick to silence the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium crowd.
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Toaster Nsabata’s failure to deal with Bereng’s free kick allowed Lesotho to take the lead. Coach Grant’s team, on the other hand, kept pushing forward as they dominated play.
Four minutes later, Fashion Sakala leveled the score with a rocket, sending the home fans wild.
At 53 minutes, Zambia took the lead thanks to Kings Kangwa’s well-taken corner kick, which was finished well with a header by Lameck Banda.
Banda scored his second goal of the day three minutes later with a powerful shot past Lesotho goalie Sekhoane Moerane.
Zambia now leads Group H with 7 points, while Ivory Coast is second with 4 points ahead of their game against Comoros on Friday.
In another encounter today, a 10-man South Sudan squad defeated hosts Congo Brazzaville 2-1 at the Stadium Alphonse Massemba-Débat in Brazzaville.
After 65 minutes, Peter Chol took the Bright Stars the lead, but the visitors were reduced in number when skipper Peter Manyang was sent off for a second yellow card in the 73rd minute.
Congo Brazzaville tied the game after 90 minutes when Thievy Guivane Bifouma Koulossa converted a penalty. The Bright Stars, however, would not give up and surged forward, scoring the game-winning goal six minutes into added time through replacement Tito Okello.
South Sudan’s team, which picked up their first three points in the qualifications, was all smiles after the final whistle. Bright Stars coach Stefano Cusin expressed satisfaction with his players’ fighting attitude.
Ghana defeated Angola 1-0 in a Group E qualifying match at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi. Antoine Serlom Semenyo, who came on in the second half to replace Inaki Williams, scored six minutes into added time.
The Black Stars of Ghana now have seven points after three matches, while the Central African Republic, who defeated Madagascar 3-0 earlier in the day, are second with four points.
It was also a pleasant victory for former Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton, who was appointed Ghana coach just a few days ago.