Kings Kangwa of Zambia - Photo Courtesy FAZ Media.
Zambia midfielder Kings Kangwa believes Chipolopolo’s qualification chances to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco remain in their hands as they prepare to face Ivory Coast at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Friday.
Chipolopolo under former Chelsea coach Avram Grant will head into the matchday five Group J fixture sitting second with seven points, two less than the African champions, who have accumulated nine.
Speaking ahead of the game, Kangwa, who plays for Israeli club Hapoel Be'er Sheva, said: “We are ready, we are looking forward to the game, I think everything is currently in our hands, we just have to work hard, we just have to work as a team and give everything because we are playing at home.”
Asked about their qualification chances, Kangwa said: “I just said everything is in our hands, we just need support from each and everyone, the fans should rally behind us.”
During the first meeting between the two sides in September, Zambia suffered a 2-0 defeat at the Stade Bouake but they recovered to beat Chad 1-0 away in their matchday four contest at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium to revive their qualification chances.
Kangwa believes the victory against Chad will spur them on to beat the African champions. “For us I think everyone is ready, we will do our best to make sure we get the ticket to the AFCON, it will be a good game, we will be playing against a very formidable team, so we are trying our best to repeat (what we did against Chad), so we have to work very hard and I am sure we will make it.”
Ahead of the game, Zambia confirmed that Lameck Banda and Joshua Mutale, who plays in Tanzania, have been ruled out of the two Group G matches against Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone due to injury.
Banda, who was carrying a niggling injury travelled to Ndola with the medics confirming that he was not fully recovered to participate in the two matches while Mutale limped off during a training session on Monday.
Grant will be without Cagliari striker Kingstone Mutandwa whose club opted not to release him as he is undergoing medical rehabilitation. Meanwhile, Mutondo Stars forward Jackson was drafted in the provisional squad as the technical bench explored options for the unavailable players.
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