Zambia eye winning start as DR Congo look to bounce back
Zambia will launch their TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 campaign on Thursday afternoon with a high-stakes clash against two-time champions DR Congo at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
The Chipolopolo are aiming to make a strong start in their quest for a maiden CHAN title, hoping to better their best-ever finish — third place in the 2009 edition.
Head coach Avram Grant, however, says his broader ambition extends beyond the tournament, as he seeks to lay the foundation for a competitive senior national team.
'Preparations have gone really well, and we're looking forward to the first game,' said the former Chelsea and Ghana coach after his team's final training session in Nairobi.
'This is a great opportunity for every player to prove themselves on the big stage. Tactically, we're not overly focused on our opponents.
"Our attention is on keeping our shape and maximizing our strengths. Our target is to build that winning mentality.'
DR Congo in Must-Win Territory After Opening Loss
Their opponents, DR Congo, are under pressure to deliver after losing their opening match 1-0 to hosts Kenya.
The Leopards now face a fresher Zambian side, who only arrived in Nairobi three days ago, but the Congolese are confident they can rise to the occasion.
Coach Otis Ngoma was clear in his assessment — his side must respond.
'We lost many chances in the first game against Kenya, and we have to bounce back. We are not here to make excuses,' said Ngoma.
'We need to improve our weaker areas, especially finishing. That was our biggest letdown. We created so many opportunities, but we didn't take them.'
Kitambala: 'No Pressure, Only Focus'
Despite the early setback, there remains belief in the DR Congo camp that the team can recover, beginning with Thursday's clash against Zambia.
Striker Jephte Kitambala says the players are eager to put their opening disappointment behind them and refocus on qualifying from the group.
'We're in a situation where we must win to keep ourselves in contention. We know we didn't do a few things right in that first game, but we are ready to make amends,' said Kitambala.
'There is no pressure on us. We just want to go out and give a good account of ourselves.'
A Battle of Styles and Urgency
While Zambia will be banking on structure, confidence, and fresh legs, DR Congo are expected to bring intensity, physicality, and urgency as they look to avoid early elimination.
The stage is set for a compelling Group A contest between two sides with contrasting moods but a shared objective: victory. version of the same content.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
4 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Sesko, Ekitike look to buck trend of ex-Bundesliga forwards struggling after big transfers - World
Benjamin Sesko's long-awaited move from Leipzig to Manchester United is done. Now the real work begins. Sesko and his fellow Premier League arrival from the Bundesliga, Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike, will need to buck a recent trend of highly rated forwards from the German league struggling after they leave. Another with something to prove is Mathys Tel, whose move to Tottenham from Bayern Munich was made permanent despite scoring just two goals in 13 Premier League games on loan last season. Of course, Erling Haaland smashed records as soon as he arrived in the Premier League with Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022. For every star like Haaland, plenty of players like Jadon Sancho, Timo Werner or Randal Kolo Muani lost their way after leaving Germany in big-money deals. A friendly league for forwards One reason might be that the Bundesliga is a happy hunting ground for would-be goalscorers. It led the top five European leagues in terms of goals scored per game last season with 3.13 — the others were all below three — and is the only one to average more than three goals per game in each of the last seven years. Some of that is down to Bayern racking up the score against smaller teams, but Germany is also the home of a tactical shift in world soccer over the past 15 years. High defensive lines and so-called 'gegenpressing' high up the field reward fast, physical forwards who can hustle for the ball and take advantage of a sudden breakaway. Underdog teams are often minded to take risks rather than 'park the bus' and defend deep. Rebuilding careers Sesko will have seen how hard it can be to regain momentum after failing with a new club. When Werner came back to Leipzig in 2023 after a failed stint at Chelsea, he was competing for playing time with Sesko — and eventually lost out. Werner's attempt at another reboot on loan at Tottenham fizzled, without a single Premier League goal last season. Some players never quite recover. The high point of Luka Jovic's career was joining Real Madrid from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019 for a reported 60 million euros ($67.5 million at the time). Once considered a potential successor to Cristiano Ronaldo, six years later the 27-year-old Jovic has just arrived at Greece's AEK Athens after stints back at Frankfurt and with Italy's AC Milan and Fiorentina. In the balance Omar Marmoush's move from Frankfurt to City in January hasn't been a roaring success, but isn't an obvious failure either. This season could be crucial to the Egyptian forward's future after seven goals in 16 Premier League games last season. Kai Havertz was a Champions League winner with Chelsea but has arguably yet to reach his full potential there, or with current team Arsenal. A hamstring injury earlier this year didn't help. It's unclear how much of a long-term future ex-Leipzig player Christopher Nkunku has in Chelsea's large squad. He scored a total of 15 goals last season but only three in the Premier League. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
CAF
6 hours ago
- CAF
Win or Bust: Angola face Zambia in high-stakes CHAN clash
Published: Sunday, 10 August 2025 The air around Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday evening will be thick with tension and hope in equal measure. Angola's Palancas Negras and Zambia's Chipolopolo find themselves in a high-stakes clash that could define their entire TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 campaigns. For Angola, the equation is painfully simple — anything less than victory could spell an early exit. For Zambia, it's a chance to rebound and keep their dream alive. Angola's Fight to Survive After a stuttering start — a 2-0 loss to two-time champions followed by a 1-1 draw against hosts Kenya — Angola have just one point to show for two games. Their margin for error has vanished, and coach Pedro Goncalves knows it. 'We know the situation but we are calm as a team. The most important thing is to remain calm and approach the match with positivity,' said the tactician. "We had a lot of good things we did against Kenya which I know can help us if we replicate against Zambia. They are a really good and solid side and we have to approach them with caution." Goncalves insists his team must be bolder in attack and take their chances early. A win would not only keep them alive but could propel them towards the knockout stage. Quinito's Rallying Cry For defender Joaquim 'Quinito' Balanga, the mission is clear — forget the past, focus on the now. 'Of course no pressure but we approach the game knowing how much we need a win. We want to remain in the competition and for this to happen, we have to give our best for a win,' Balanga emphasised. It's a mindset rooted in resilience, one Angola will need in abundance to break down Zambia's defence. Zambia's Chance for Redemption Zambia arrive in Nairobi with their own troubles. A 2-0 defeat to DR Congo in their opening match left them playing catch-up in the group. But coach Avram Grant remains the voice of optimism. 'In football, and in life, there is always something called a new day and new hope. This is the same thing I told to my players that we forget what happened in the first game and give our effort in the second match where we have a chance to improve,' Grant explained. "We conceded from a throw-in then from a counter attack against DRC and definitely these are areas we have looked at to improve and do better." His experience at the highest levels of the game will be crucial in steadying the Zambian ship. Captain Chongo's Call to Action For skipper Kabaso Chongo, this is an opportunity to put things right. 'It was a bit scrappy how we started but always, in the first game, not everything goes to plan. However, we have now picked rhythm and we know where we were short and have worked on it,' Chongo said. "We know Angola is a really good team. We watched some of their games and we know what to expect. As players this tournament offers us a huge opportunity and we want to keep playing and win game by game." A Battle with No Margin for Error Both teams know the stakes. For Angola, it's win or go home. For Zambia, it's a chance to turn the tide and move a step closer to the knockout rounds. When the whistle blows at Nyayo National Stadium, expect nothing less than a fierce contest between two sides fighting for survival.
CAF
10 hours ago
- CAF
Mzize the Goal Machine: Tanzania's relentless striker with eyes on CHAN glory
Published: Sunday, 10 August 2025 When the lights shone brightest on Saturday night, Clement Francis Mzize answered the call. The Tanzanian striker didn't just score — he roared, delivering two goals inside 20 minutes to sink Madagascar and send the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium into scenes of sheer euphoria. By the end of the night, the scoreboard read 2-1 to the hosts, and Mzeezi had been crowned TotalEnergies Man of the Match. For Tanzania, it was more than a victory — it was a third successive group-stage win and a historic ticket to the knockout rounds of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024. For Mzize, it was personal glory, national pride, and the promise of more to come. 'I Thank God for This Opportunity' Still beaming in the post-match press room, Mzize could barely contain his gratitude. 'I thank God for this opportunity to be in this place and to be chosen as Man of the Match. It is great that we continue moving forward in the competition, and we hope to go far in the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship 2024.' The words carried the sincerity of a man who knows the value of such moments — and the hunger to create more. Decisive Brilliance in a Tough Battle Madagascar proved a resilient opponent, their physicality and tactical organisation making life difficult for Tanzania's attack. But Mzize's sharpness in front of goal was the difference. 'We were able to move in the match despite the strength of the Madagascar team and its players. We managed, with difficulty, to reach the opponent's goal and score two goals.' His brace didn't just break the deadlock — it broke Madagascar's resistance, giving Tanzania the control they needed to see out the game. A Historic Moment for the Taifa Stars For Mzize, the magnitude of Tanzania's achievement was not lost. 'Yes, we are lucky to participate in this competition. We have never reached the knockout stages of the CHAN before, and this time we managed, deservedly, to get past the group stage. Thanks to everyone and to the fans who gave us the drive to reach the quarter-finals.' For a nation passionate about football but still chasing a major continental breakthrough, this moment was history in the making. Tanzania's Most Dangerous Weapon With his lethal instincts and unerring composure in front of goal, Clement Francis Mzize has emerged as one of CHAN 2024's must-watch players. His two-goal heroics against Madagascar were no fluke, but a statement — that Tanzania possess a striker capable of firing them into the latter stages, maybe even the final, and perhaps to their first-ever continental crown.
