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Langton Nyakwenda
WHILE Warriors coach Kallisto Pasuwa has bemoaned the absence of friendly matches for the national team and the lack of enough exposure to the synthetic turf ahead of Tuesday’s opening match against Zambia, Zimbabwe’s opponents in Group D have been out and about, extensively preparing for the tournament.
The Sunday Mail takes a look at what has been happening in Mali, Uganda and Zambia.
Zambia
Confidence is overflowing in the Chipolopolo camp and the Zambian national team coach George Lwandamina is upbeat his charges will put a top class performance in Rwanda.
Various media in Zambia are portraying a highly expectant nation, especially after the inclusion of two Afcon 2012 veterans Chris Katongo and Isaac Chansa in the squad.
Katongo (33), who has returned home to play for Green Buffaloes after stints in South Africa, Germany, Denmark, Greece and China, captained Chipolopolo to their first ever Afcon title in 2012.
He went on to win the 2012 BBC African footballer of the Year and his presence in the Chipolopolo squad for the CHAN finals has ignited hope among the Zambians.
“What is exciting is to see, is the high spirit in camp and hard work that the boys are putting in, then you know you are headed for a good championship,” Lwandamina told The Post of Zambia yesterday.
Chipolopolo who camped for five days in Johannesburg, South Africa ahead of the tourney, beat Angola 2-1 before drawing 0-0 against Absa Premiership side Mamelodi Sundowns in their final warm up match.
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane, whose side is preparing for the CAF Champions League, praise the Chipolopolo for a good show.
The Zambian National Broadcasting Corporation however reported during the week that local football analyst Thandika Chirwa doubted the team’s readiness for the CHAN finals.
Zambia are making their second appearance at the tournament since coming third at the inaugural edition in 2009.
They play Zimbabwe on Tuesday before dating Uganda next Sunday. Chipolopolo and complete their group games on January 27 when they play Mali.
Zambia arrived in Rwanda last Thursday.
Lwandamina told Supersport during the week he was unfazed by the looming derby against Zimbabwe.
The trans-Zambezi clash will be the first between Zambia and Zimbabwe in a continental tournament.
“So many people have spoken so much about Zimbabwe,” Lwandamina said.
“We will give the game the respect it deserves. We are going for a tournament and Zimbabwe is not the only team we will face.”
Mali
Having exited at the quarterfinal stage at the 2014 edition – where they were knocked out by Zimbabwe – the Eagles are now expected to do better.
Coach Djibril Drame and his gang want to do better and are targeting to progress past the round of eight.
Mali and Zambia are being touted by a number of international publications as the favourites to progress from Group D although the West Africans have been wary of Zimbabwe’s talent.
Most of the players in the Malian squad turn out for local giant Stade Malien who have won the championship 20 times.
Stade Malien are almost a permanent fixture in continental club competitions.
Uganda
The Cranes played two friendly matches against Gabon and Cameroon in the run up to the tournament with both clashes ending in stalemates.
They drew 1-1 against Gabon last Sunday in a game The Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic lamented his team’s lack of creativity.
According to reports from Kampala, The Cranes were also not convincing in their 0-0 deadlock against Cameroon last Tuesday.
Uganda’s strike force is spearheaded by Vipers S.C teenage sensation and Cranes skipper Farouk Miya, who is regarded as the hottest property in the Ugandan local league at the moment.
The 18-year-old Miya, who is Uganda’s leading scorer in their 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign, is known as “Muyizi Tasubwa”, a Luganda saying meaning a “hunter who cannot miss.”
Miya will be the one to watch when the Warriors lock horns with The Cranes in their last group match on January 27.
Miya leads an attack line that also include the pair of vice captain Robert Ssentongo and Caeser Okhuti.
Despite his team’s lackluster shows in the two friendly matches, Uganda’s Serbian coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic is confident his charges will hold their own in Rwanda.
“I trust that the team I have named will hold the Ugandan flag high and play well in the tournament,” he said.
The bulk of the Ugandan players at CHAN are also representing The Cranes in both the FIFA 2018 World Cup and 2017 Afcon qualifiers.
Uganda, who lead their Afcon qualifying group, eliminated Tanzania and Sudan on their way to the CHAN finals.
Online Reporter