U-23’s Olympic Quest Starts With Algeria

3 June 2011

Zambia’s quest for a return to the Olympics continues this evening when the Lucy Msiska-coached soccer side takes on Algeria in the first leg encounter of the London 2012 Olympic Games qualifier.

After failing to qualify for this September’s Maputo All-African Games, Msiska knows that his side faces their stern test when they take on the young Desert Foxes in a match his Zambian side needs to collect a positive result ahead of the return fixture in two weeks time.

Zambia saw off Rwanda 3-0 on an aggregate score in the last qualifier but the team will need to up its game against a highly-rated Algerian side that would be looking forward to kill off the game in the first leg and hope for draw at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola.

Thus it would be important for Msiska to come up with a strong squad that should be able to contain the Algerian pressure, especially that the Arabic system of play was no stranger to the Zambian team.

Msiska said his side understood the task at hand, especially the importance of qualifying for the Olympic Games, adding that the team had been training as a unit for a long time and thus expected a good partnership on the pitch.

“We are at a very good stage now. We have all worked very hard to get to this phase. Now is the time to work even harder. That is the message am giving the boys ahead of our game. We all know what we want to do,” he said.

In goal, Allan Chibwe should be given the task of denying Algeria from netting in any goal with the experience of Jimmy Chisenga to come in handy alongside Stephen Kabamba, Derrick Mwansa with Cosmas Kabaza, Lawrence Chungu and Gift Sakuwaha as available options.

Chisamba Lungu should marshal the defence with Henry Banda to provide those necessary balls to Fwayo Tembo who should partner with Felix Nyaende upfront in search of that away goal.

To prepare for this match, the Algerians lined up a friendly against Niger, a match head coach Azzedine Ait Djoudi used to assess his players before playing Zambia.

Algeria thrashed Madagascar 4-0 on aggregate to set up a clash with Zambia, and the eight countries to qualify at the end of this stage would compete in a final round from December 2-8, 2011. The venue would be chosen from among the eight countries that will qualify.

In a memorable Seoul Olympic Games, Zambia drew 2-2 with Iraq, beat Guatemala 4-0 before a Kalusha Bwalya hat trick against former FIFA World Cup winners Italy inspired Zambia to a memorable 4-1 win to storm the quarter-finals.

A Jurgen Klinsmann-led German side stopped Zambia’s march at the last eight phase.

AllAfrica – All the Time