The Chipolopolo of Zambia on Tuesday kick off their 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) with a 1-0 win over Zimbabwe in a Group D match played at the Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu, Rwanda.
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Mali and Uganda began thier CHAN campaign with a point, after the two sides played out to a 2-2 draw on Tuesday evening.
Second assistant Kampamba Chintu will now be deputy coach.
Chansa’s goal also catapulted Zambia to the summit of Group D after match-day-one to hand Chipolopolo a two-point lead heading into Saturday’s penultimate round of matches.
The other changes saw Rodrick Mutumwa coming in for Gerald Takwara while Marshall Mudehwe came in for Edmore Chirambadare towards the end of the match. The Warriors failed to click and the Northern neighbours utilised the few chances they created.
“The game against Zimbabwe will be the most important. We now need to go back to the drawing board ahead of our next game against Mali”, he added.
The Dynamos defender came worse off from a head of clashes with Zambia’s Stephen Kabamba as he tried to clear a corner taken by Mwelwa Mwape and it took the medical team five minutes to try and treat him before a decision to make a change and bring on Stephen Makatuka was made. I am optimistic we will have a good tournament. “The good thing is that they know what is at stake”, Kalusha said.
Heading into this afternoon’s tussle at Rubavu Stadium, Zambia will be looking to maintain its dominance having recorded 15 wins, 22 draws and only seven losses against the Warriors since the two sides first met in 1980.
Zimbabwe, who appeared content with soaking the early Zambian pressure, had their first attack on goal arriving in the 11th minute and it yielded a corner as Adrian Chama stretched his big boot to divert for a corner Zekumbawire’s effort.
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And Chipolopolo coach George Lwandamina says he is ready for the showdown.
