Zambia’s Chipolopolo thumped Uganda 3-0 in a friendly fixture played in the Middle East on Tuesday night.
This was Zambia’s second friendly match in six days having succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Egypt last Thursday. At the Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium in Sharjah, Leicester City striker Patson Daka was the star of the game after netting a brace.
Chipolopolo started strongly and just after five minutes earned a penalty after a foul on Klings Kangwa. Daka stepped up and converted the resultant penalty to open the scoring. Zambia almost doubled the score in the 14th minute but Sakala missed a sitter with only Uganda goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa to beat.
Zambia continued to have the lion’s share of the possession but against the run of play, Chipolopolo’s rear guard was almost breached but Francis Mwansa made a brilliant save to deny Khalid Aucho.
Chipolopolo went into the break leading 1-0 and they continued to be a threat in the second half, and it was Deja Vu when Sakala had yet another chance to double the lead six minutes into the second half but he failed to score. However, Chipolopolo’s resilience finally paid off when Al Feiha forward Sakala scored in the 63rd minute by converting a Zephaniah Phiri cross.
Five minutes later, Phiri who made his Chipolopolo debut was at it again as he assisted Daka for his second of the match, which was yet another header to put the icing on the cake. The Chipolopolo Boys are warming up for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the January Africa Cup of Nations.