Zambia concluded their 2025 AFCON preliminaries with a 2-0 victory away to Sierra Leone in Monrovia, Liberia.
Goals from Emmanuel Banda and Kennedy Musonda made certain that the Chipolopolo Boys topped Group G ahead of Ivory Coast.
BolaNews rates the performances of the Copper Bullets in their scintillating win at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex on Tuesday.
GOALKEEPER
Toaster Nsabata (7/10): It would be difficult for anyone to argue that Nsabata is not the best Zambian shot-stopper at the moment. He tallied three top saves in Liberia to complete three cleansheets in a row.
DEFENDERS
Frankie Musonda (6/10): While he was quite adventurous going forward, he lagged defensively. In the bittersweet performance, Musonda recorded the most final-third passes (12) but was dribbled past the most times (5).
Stopilla Sunzu (7/10): Aging like fine wine, Sunzu worked his socks off against Sierra Leone, making four clearances.
Kabaso Chongo (7/10): No striker stands a chance against Chongo, who won six of the seven duels he contested.
Obino Chisala (7/10): The Mozambique-based star has been very dependable at left back in Lubambo Musonda’s absence.
MIDFIELDERS
Kelvin Kapumbu (7/10): Kapumbu dropped another stellar performance for the Copper Bullets. He completed more accurate long balls than any other player (4 out of 4).
Emmanuel Banda (8/10): The General finally got rewarded with his first goal for the senior Chipolopolo. He proficiently found the back of the net with a clean strike.
Kings Kangwa (8/10): A diminutive playmaker donning jersey number 10 running from his own half and skipping past multiple defenders to create a goal. One might mistake that for Lionel Messi, but it was Kangwa setting up Zambia’s opener.
FORWARDS
Kelvin Kampamba (7/10): The Copper Bullets captain put the ball on a plate for Kennedy Musonda in the 64th minute, but the striker missed the sitter.
Joseph Sabobo Banda (8/10): It seems like everything the youngster touches turns to goals. His shot that hit the woodwork was followed by Musonda’s goal. Sierra Leone defenders as aware of how much danger Sabobo poses, fouling him more times than any other Zambian player (5).
Kennedy Musonda (8/10): Four goals in six matches make him the joint-third top scorer in the 2025 AfCON qualifiers. Only Brahimi Diaz and Serhou Guirassy, on seven and six, respectively scored more goals.
SUBSTITUTES
Golden Mafwenta (6/10): The Ukraine-based midfielder had a decent shift in the middle of the park after replacing Emmanuel Banda.
Clatous Chota Chama (6/10): Chama was thrown into the mix in the 69th minute as Zambia pushed for the cushion goal.
Francisco Mwepu (5/10): Some minutes in the tank for Mwepu, who came on for the last ten minutes of normal time.
Rally Bwalya and Jackson Kampamba (N/A):
Mutondo Stars FC striker Jackson Kampamba officially made his debut for the Chipolopolo Boys.
COACH
Avram Grant (8/10): Grant’s halftime team talk and substitutions moved the needle on the Copper Bullets, who got into the groove in the second half and flexed their muscles at Sierra Leone.
READ MORE: Zambia finish AFCON qualifiers strong as Cosafa nations dominate final 24 qualified teams
