– Chipolopolos sail through to COSAFA semis

Chipolopolos sail through to COSAFA semis

 

Kitwe, July 15, 2013, 2013, ZANIS  —-   The 2012 African Soccer Champions and Lesotho have qualified to the semi –finals of the on –going COSAFA Cup.

 

 

The  Chipolopolos ( Copper bullets as the nationals football team is known locally) sailed through to the semis  after beating Mozambique 3 –  1 at Nkana stadium in Kitwe yesterday.

 

 

The Crocodiles of Lesotho on the other hand punished Angola after the latter was outplayed in the full 90 minutes of the game at the same stadia.  The crocodiles later went on to finish off their mission with a 5-3 victory via post match penalties.

 

 

The  Chipolopolos ( Copper bullets as the national football team is known locally) will now face  Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the semi-finals while the Crocodiles will face Zimbabwe.

 

 

 

Nchanga Rangers striker Bornwell Mwape opened the score line for Zambia after which Red Arrow Striker Jimmy Chisenga netted in   the second goal through a penalty shot.

 

 

The scoreline put Zambia on the lead in the first half  after which  Moses Phiri of ZANACO slotted in a grass cutter in the second half sealed the victory for the young Chipolopolo boys to book themselves  a place in the semi-finals at Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola on Wednesday.

 

 

 

Mozambique managed a face-lifter in the 85^th minute through Apsone Manjare  in an acrobatic goal attempt that caught Chipolopolo goal Keeper Danny Munyau  napping..

 

 

 

And Zambia’s Coach Herve Renard congratulated his team for the resounding victory despite playing on a pitch he described as difficulty.

 

 

Speaking to journalist after the match, Renard said he will now work to avenge the loss Zambia suffered at the hands of the South Africans in the semi-finals at the previous COSAFA Cup tournament in 2008.

 

 

 

He said it would be great to bring home the COSAFA Trophy to Zambia one and half years after winning the Africa Cup in 2012.

 

 

And Mozambique Coach Joao Chissano conceded defeat saying Zambia was too strong for his team.

 

 

Chissano observed that his players were nervous and did not play their game which made them concede goals.

 

 

 Earlier, Lesotho beat Angola 5 goals to 4 in a penalty shoot-out following a 1 all draw to book its first ever appearance in the COSAFA Cup Tournament.

 

 

Angola’s Moises Jose gave away the victory to Lesotho after his penalty shot was saved by Lesotho Goal Keeper Phasumane Kholuoe.

 

 

Angola will now face Namibia in the plate section while Mozambique will play Malawi tomorrow at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.