For the first time since 2014, Zambia’s Chipolopolo will not be at the African Nations Championship after they were booted out by Mozambique on Saturday.
It was the end of the road for Chipolopolo after a stinging 1-0 home loss to The Mamba’s of Mozambique.
Zambia paid the price for poor finishing at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka to bow out by the same aggregate scoreline.
Chipolopolo could have wrapped up the contest in the first half, but poor finishing by Albert Kangwanda in the 13th minute, Luka Chamanga six minutes later and Kelvin Mubanga twice in the 24th and 32nd minutes would prove costly for Aljosa Asanovic’s side.
And Mozambique turned on the screw in the second period in which Chipolopolo had goalkeeper Charles Kalumba to thank in the 61st minute when he kept out a potential own goal from captain Benedict Chepeshi’s needless point black range header.
The introduction of striker Jimmy Mukeya a minute later for the subdued Albert Kangwanda brought some life into the team. In the 65th minute, Ricky Banda failed to put his boot to an exquisite cross from the Napsa Stars player.
Mozambique, though, were rewarded for a persistent and dogged second-half performance in the 81st minute when unmarked striker Pachoio Lau King bundled in the ball just 22 minutes after coming on the pitch.
Chipolopolo, who have qualified for the last three CHAN editions, missed out for the first time since the 2014 tournament when ominously Zimbabwe beat them 1-0 in the final leg in Ndola following another 0-0 away draw.
Mozambique march to the final leg to face Malawi next month for a place at January’s finals in Algeria.
Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana progressed to the second round of the qualifiers of the same competition after edging Comoros 1-0 on aggregate. They won the first leg 1-0 away and played a goalless draw at the Dobsoville Stadium.
Their only goal in two legs came through the boot of Khulekani Shezi. South Africa could have buried the visitors but failed to convert the numerous chances they created.
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