Avram Grant ended his four-game winless run with a resounding 3-2 win over Sierra Leone at the Levy Mwanawnsa stadium in Ndola in the 2025 Morocco Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The win was also the first since November 2023.
The Chipolopolo, who entered into the game from a 2-0 loss to Ivory Coast, made their intentions clear from the onset.
Three minutes into the match, Kennedy Musonda’s shot went straight on goalkeeper Mohamed Kamara’s body after Clatous Chama curled in a cross in the area, before the Leone Stars cleared their lines.
Six minutes later, Chama again found himself in a scoring position as Zambia continued to attack the Sierra Leone half, but his effort went right into Kamara’s arms.
The pressure paid off in the 27th minute when Kennedy Musonda emphatically headed home Lubambo Musonda’s cross to equalise for the home side and mark his first senior Chipolopolo goal.
But after some clumsy defending allowed Sierra Leone to create space inside the box, Augustus Kargbo capitalised on the loose ball to equalise for the visitors four minutes after Musonda’s goal, much to the dismay of the home crowd, as the first half ended in a draw.
In the second stanza, Zambia’s dominant play continued with Grant substituting Banda for Joseph Sabobo Banda, who was making his second senior appearance for the Chipolopolo and stole the show as he received cheers from the fans each time he held the ball.
Pressure was mounting on the Leone Stars. 48 minutes into the second half, Stoppila Sunzu came close to restoring Zambia’s lead, but his attempt to head the ball right at the goalmouth was unsuccessful as he missed his target.
Nine minutes later, Chama dribbled Kamara and scored in the 56th but he was judged to have been in an offside position.
Kampamba and Kangwa heroic moments
Needing more fire power, Kelvin Kapamba replaced Obino Chisala in the 65th minute and four minutes later put the Chipolopolo in the lead again with a cool shot from outside the box from a Kennedy Musonda assist— his second competitive goal for the senior team which came a week after losing his mother.
But that was also short-lived as the Leone Stars levelled three minutes later through Crystal Palace forward Hindolo Mustapha with a powerful shot from the edge of the box, giving Lawrence Mulenga no chance to stop the ball.
Grant’s side did not give up as they kept on pushing for the winner and in the 85th minute they won a free kick slightly out of the 18 box.
Kings Kangwa stepped up and bang; he scored the matching goal with a beautiful kick.
Grant was thrilled after the match and praised his players for the fighting spirit.
“It was a great win, really great win; we played very good football,” Grant told reporters after the match. “We created chances, but more importantly, we showed great mentality because after they equalised 1-1, then 2-2, two minutes after every goal we scored, we scored again. I know many teams that can break, but we continued playing and played well.”
He continued: “And if I may, it was the same as it was in Ivory Coast; the players are showing a lot of character, fighting spirit, and commitment, and I am very happy about that.”
The Chipolopolo have moved into second place in Group H, behind Ivory Coast, who also defended Chad 2-0 to extend their lead with six points from two wins.
