26th January, 2015
Zambia play Cape Verde on Monday night in Ebebiyin in the hunt for the precious three points that could see them through to the 2015 Africa Cup quarterfinals.
The meeting will be Zambia and Cape Verde’s third meeting in exactly five months of what is a slowly brewing into David-versus-Goliath rivalry.
Cape Verde and Zambia are even with a win each after earlier meeting in the 2015 qualifiers that saw them finish first and second respectively in Group F.
The Blue Sharks beat visitors Zambia 2-1 in the first leg on September 9 in Praia but Honour Janza’s side avenged that defeat winning 1-0 in the teams final Group F match on November 19 in Ndola.
“The good part is that we know each other,” Janza said.
“Cape Verde know us and we know them. So I think it will be an interesting match and the best team will carry the day and not the lucky team.”
Cape Verde have two points heading into the must-win match, one point ahead of bottom placed Zambia.
The sums are simple for Zambia and that is a win and then bank on Tunisia to draw or beat DR Congo in the simultaneous kick off in Bata for them to qualify.
Tunisia lead Group B on four points while DR Congo have two points.
Meanwhile, Zambia will be without striker Emmanuel Mayuka who sustained a groin injury in last Thursday’s 2-1 loss to Tunisia.
The situation has left Janza with just 21 players at his disposal after losing Zambia’s goal scorer in that match.
The development has left Janza with the likely prospect of reuniting Evans Kangwa and Reynold Kampamba in attack for the second time at the tournament.