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Zambia 2-0 Tanzania: Second-half goals hand Chipolopolo victory
Taifa Stars will have to win their next game against Namibia to stand a chance of advancing
Zambia have started their Chan campaign on a high after claiming a 2-0 win over Tanzania at Stade Omnisport de Limbe on Tuesday night.
Second-half goals from Collins Sikombe and Emmanuel Chabula ensured Chipolopolo became the first team to score more than one goal in Cameroon.
Both teams were nervous in the early exchanges and looked unsettled with no specific game plan.
The Taifa Stars were the first ones to test the goalkeeper in the third minute courtesy of Baraka Majogoro, but Allan Chibwe did well to stop him.
Yusuf Mhilu and Ayub Lyanga had half-chances to create something meaningful for their team but made poor decisions when it mattered most.
In the 30th minute, the Chipolopolo had a great opportunity to open the scoring. Golden Mafwenta beat the offside trap, and with the goalkeeper to beat, he opted to square the ball in search of a teammate, and the danger was eventually cleared.
A minute later, Stars defenders slept on the job, allowing Chabula to get a chance of shooting. The forward unleashed a fierce strike which Aishi Manula managed to get out for an unfruitful corner.
The last meaningful attempt of the first half was in the 36th minute. Lyanga managed to manoeuvre through the defenders, but with the goal in front of him, he blasted his effort wide.
The Etienne Ndayiragije-led team started the second half stronger, attacking with every chance they got, but they did not break the Chipolopolo defence.
In the 62nd minute, Zambia had the best chance when defender Shomari Kapombe handled the ball in the danger zone and the referee awarded them a penalty.
Sikombe stepped up and managed to find the back of the net with the help of the woodwork.
In the 75th minute, Sikombe was slipped in and had Manula to beat, however, the custodian pulled a fantastic save to deny him.
The rebound fell to Chabula, but he somehow missed putting the ball in an empty net.
Chipolopolo, eventually doubled the advantage in the 82nd minute when Sikombe made up for his miss by setting up Chabula, whose first-time effort caught the Simba SC custodian off guard.
Zambia are now on three points and take on Guinea next, while the Stars will have a date with Namibia.
Zambia XI: Allan Chibwe, Luka Banda, Zachariah Chilongoshi, Clement Mulashi, Benedict Chepeshi, Golden Mafwenta, Paul Katema, Kelvin Kapumbu, Collins Sikombe, Kelvin Kampamba, Emmanuel Chabula
Subs: Lameck Siame, Kondwani Chiboni, Spencer Sautu. Leonard Mulenga, Amity Shamende, Friday Samu, Jackson Chirwa, Dominic Chanda, Patrick Chooma, Pride Mwansa, Harrison Chisala
Tanzania XI: Aishi Manula, Shomari Kapombe, Edward Charles, Kalos Protus, Bakari Mwamnyeto, Baraka Majogoro, Yusuph Mhilu, Feisal Salum, Ditram Nchimbi, Lucas Kikoti, Ayub Lyanga
Subs: Juma Kaseja, Daniel Mgore, Israel Mwenda, Yassin Mustapha, Deus Kaseke, Aburazak Hamza, Samwel Onditi, Said Hamisi, Adam Adam, Zuberi Dabi, Farid Mussa, Rajabu Othman
