CAN 2008 Preview: Sudan - Zambia

What: Cup of African Nations, Group C
Who: Sudan vs Zambia
When: Tuesday 22 January 19:30 GMT
Where: Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi
Out to prove a point

The Chipolopolo of Zambia will be looking forward to today’s encounter, knowing they are the only team in the 'group of Champions' not to have lifted the African Cup of Nations before.

The Zambian team, which only a few weeks ago silenced the crowd at Rades in a pre-tournament friendly match beating their hosts Tunisia 2-1, came through the qualifiers for this tournament without losing a single away fixture, putting them in good stead for the tournament. The squad defeated the highly-rated South Africans in Durban in their final group 11 qualifying game by 3-1. But there home games where not as impressive, taking only two points from a possible nine.

It would be safe to assume that this team feels better playing outside their turf, and that is exactly what they are doing here in Ghana.

The Nile Crocodiles of Sudan also had a fantastic qualifying campaign, coming through their group with only one defeat. The Sudanese also last month won the regional CECAFA tournament, which pitted teams from the East and Central African countries against each other.

But recent form in friendly matches has set the team as underdogs coming into this game.

A 2-0 defeat to the Nigerians followed by a 6-0 whitewash by the Syli Stars of Guinea really has not done much for the team's confidence ahead today’s game. But how many times have we seen teams perform woefully in pre-tournament friendly matches and coming out to perform creditably well in the competition proper?

Must-win for both sides

The two teams are not favorites to progress from a group that contains defending champions Egypt and group favorite Cameroon. They are however each capable of causing a major upset in the eventual final standings of the group table. But they both know that if they are to progress they will need to get maximum points from this encounter, which is arguably both side's easiest on paper.

Thus we should expect to see a fast paced game with each side trying to get the goals that puts them in an advantage.

The Zambians are pacey in attack, and would look to employ a winger-based formation when pushing forward.

On the other hand, the Sudanese are more adept in the short passing game. They occasionally employ the looping balls for the strikers to latch onto as well.

I do not foresee either team sitting down in this encounter: they are going to go all out for it. Whoever gets the three points here can then contrive to steal a result off the other big two.

TEAM NEWS

Zambia

The Zambian duo of Christopher Katonga and Isaac Chansa will miss this game after both players received suspensions in pre-tournament qualifiers. The pair are influential players for the team and their absence is significant.

Coach Phiri is expected to retain the team’s 4-3-3 formation with possibly Moroka Swallows striker James Chamanga, who has failed to score in three international friendly games for the squad, and ANC debutant Jacob Mulenga of Strasbourg heading the attack in the absence of Katonga.

Zambian U-20 striker Emmanuel Mayuka could get a call up after Felix Sunzu Junior, who only just joined the team from trials in Tunisia, fell ill with malaria upon arrival at Kumasi.

Kennedy Mweene should retain his position as first choice goalkeeper after being rested for last week’s friendly encounter against local Ghanaian club side King Faisal Football Club.

Coach Phiri dropped veteran defender Elijah Tana from the squad after originally calling him up for the provisional side. The team’s defence should however be marshaled by Zanaco FC’s Kennedy Nkethani.

The Zambians last reached the Semi-finals 12 years ago, the Finals 14 years ago and last won an ANC opening game fixture 16 years ago, and would be looking towards improving on that record.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, South Africa), Kalililo Kakonje (Amazulu, South Africa), Mike Poto (Green Buffaloes)

Defenders: William Chinyama, Clive Hachilensa (Both Zesco United), Kampamba Chintu (Free State Stars, South Africa), Hichani Himoonde (Lusaka Dynamos), Billy Mwanza, Joseph Musonda (Both Lamotville Golden Arrows), Kennedy Nkethani (Zanaco).

Midfielders: Ian Bakala, Felix Katongo (Both Desportivo de Agosto, Angola), Isaac Chansa (Helsingborg, Sweden), Rainford Kalaba (Zesco United), Francis Kasonde (Power Dynamos), Clifford Mulenga (Pretoria University FC, South Africa), William Njovbu (Lusaka Dynamos).

Strikers: James Chamanga (Moroka Swallows, South Africa), Christopher Katongo (Brondby, Denmark), Emmanuel Mayuka (Kabwe Warriors), Jacob Mulenga (Strasbourg, France), Dube Phiri (Desportivo de Agosto, Angola), Felix Nsunzu Jnr (Konkola Blades).

Sudan

Coach Ismail Ata al-Mannane of Sudan will be hoping that his defence puts their acts together after making series of “schoolboy” errors in their pre-tournament friendly matches.

His El-Merreikh strike force of Abdelhamid Amari, Faisal Ajab will hope to deliver the goals that have refused to come in recent games for the team. The team will employ the traditional 4-4-2 formation with Richard Justin Lado controlling the ball in the middle for the Crocodiles.

They will hope that the extra man in midfield can help them to dictate the pace of play; should Zambia get the ball into the final third too often, that will prove difficult, but a settled, albeit attacking game would suit the Crocs just fine.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Bahaeddine Abdallah (Al Merreikh), Mahjoub El Moez (Al Hilal), Akram El Hadi Salem (Al Merreikh).

Defenders: Mohamed Ali Khidr (Al Hilal), Ahmed Al Bacha (Al Merreikh), Moussa Al Tayeb (Al Merreikh), Omar Bakhit (Al Hilal), Amir Damar (Al Merreikh), Alaeddine Ahmed Gibril (Al-Hilal), Khalid Hassan (Al Hilal).

Midfielders: Yousef Alaeddine (Al-Hilal), Hamouda Bechir (Al Hilal), Badreddine El Doud (Al Merreikh), Saifeddine Ali Idriss (Al Hilal), Hassan Isaac Korongo (Al-Hilal), Richard Justin Lado (Al Hilal), Moujahid Mohamed (Al Merreikh), Haitham Moustafa (Al-Hilal), Mohamed Taher (Al Hilal)

Forwards: Abdelhamid Amari, Faisal Ajab, Alaeddine Babikr, Haitham Tambal (all Al Merreikh).

Prediction

The first half of the game will be utterly crucial to the eventual outcome of the encounter. If the Zambians are able to breach the Sudanese defensive line during that period, as they will try to do, we could be in for yet another goal feast. But if the Sudanese are able to contain the Zambians during that period, then we should expect a keenly contested game from both sides. Overall I expect the Zambians to prevail.

Sudan 0:2 Zambia