March 2, 2009
Despite being hammered 3-0 by Ghana last night the Tresor Mputu led Congolese qualified after unbeaten Zimbabwe were held to a goalless stalemate by Libyia in the other Group B fixture. Congo finished with four points with Zimbabwe on three points.
Zambia and DR Congo last meant in a friendly match in December 2008 and the match ended 0-0.
For Zambia to reach the last four, the Chipolopolo Boys thrashed Ivory Coast 3-0 in the first match of the tournament. The Copper Bullets were then held to goalless stalemate by Senegal before recording yet another 1-1 draw in a thrilling encounter in which Dennis Banda’s volley saved the ‘Dream Team.’
Meanwhile Zambia Daily Mail wrote,
“I feel better now but I am not happy because one decision of a referee can kill you. Imagine if we had gone home because of that kind of a penalty. It’s impossible to develop football like that. The referee was simply a scandal,” Renard said.
Chaibu pointed to the spot when Tana appeared to have handled in the area and Shadrack Nsajigwa converted from the spot.
Television replays showed Tana was not guilty of handling.
Tanzania coach Marcio Maximo refused to discuss the referee’s performance but Tana said the referee had a bias towards Tanzania.
Meanwhile, Renard says his target is to reach the final of the championship.
Although he does not know Zambia’s opponents in the semi-finals, he said he had enough ammunition at his disposal to reach the final and attempt to win the title.
He said his boys deserved to be in the semi-finals because they have played good football at the tournament.
“I don’t know, maybe it’s because the coach has different eyes sometimes but I think we deserved to win. Their keeper saved them a lot,” Renard said.
Striker Given Singuluma’s header came off the woodwork after a touch from the goalkeeper Dihile Mohamed early in the second half.
Jonas Sakuwaha’s half volley had earlier been parried for a corner and later in the game, Tana’s cracking free-kick was palmed out.
Renard said Zambians must be proud of the team’s success so far because they were among the best four in Africa.
“In case people have forgotten, Tanzania were using their best team, the team that held Egypt. But for us, we only used one player (Tana) from our first 11 in the senior team,” he said.
He said some players such as debutant Jimmy Chisenga and midfielder William Njobvu were outstanding in the team.
“Jimmy was very good on the right wing. I regret I haven’t played him and Emmanuel Mbola on the left. These are the future of Zambian football,” Renard said.
He said he could not start Chisenga against Ivory Coast last Sunday because he had not assessed the player in some aspects of the game.
Renard said despite qualification, he would also consider players who have not featured so far because they were part of the team.
Describing the last five minutes of the game, Renard said he had hoped that something would come out.
“Elijah came near me and I told him ‘come on, come on. There are fiveminutes and that’s a long time.’
“It’s good we did not only equalise, we equalised with a good goal,” Renard said.
71 Comments on "Zambia to play DR congo in Semis"
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Chamwe Kaira in Windhoek on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 9:59 AM
Number one. DRC looks beatble, I am sure they are dejected after losing 3-0. Our Group was tough.
Big Steve from SA on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 10:24 AM
Looks like we might meet Ghana in the final. I think we have what it takes to beat Congo. Good luck guys.
Vincent Numbwa on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 10:27 AM
We have high chances of going through to the Finals. DRC can not stop us . Lets go Zambia lets go!X 1000
Chamwe Kaira in Windhoek on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 10:31 AM
Which team has quality, Ghana or Senegal?
F-15 on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 10:45 AM
I woudnt b too excited. Zambia is very unpredictable
Georgia Russia on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 11:07 AM
the secreat is not to underate drc,other wise drc is a beatble team.
man from the community on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 11:19 AM
that refaree is a Diramba just like the Gabonese.Otherwise let us not be happy because DRC can turn the tables.This is football.Even if they lost their last game that is a lesson to them so they might come with full force on us as a reaction.If Zambia could draw in unexplicable circumstances it can hapen in the semi finals.Lets go Herve Mwana Musankwa wa francaise.
KMS on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 11:44 AM
I would want to know what CAF does to such incompetent refarees.even the commentators acknowledged his mischief.that kind of officiating is what brings down the game in africa.we need to correct it,otherwise,we will always be blaming our lads even if they wer’ playing against 12 men.Its not fare and its high time southern africans stood up and campaigned against such Vices in the game.
I could just imagined if I had not watched the game I would have blamed the team for drowing,but after watching it,only then did I appreciate the effort they put in.
On the other hand HR should not use a defencive approach in the upcoming games coz we might pay for it.just like we almost did against TZ.We have enough ammunition in Mudenda and the likes to finish games in normal time.
Kasonde played good football as compared to Hachi,hope he can replicate that standard in the next game.mulenga showing stamina and will probably go far if he continues.
Wish the team all the best!
Waka Special on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 11:51 AM
The match against DRC will be tough but as seen already we are on a mission to lift the chan championship troffi.As long as we attack with accuracy shooting on target, i see the team in the final.Better TV,u did let us down by showing the english game in place of our game.U are the guyz who say zambians shud change the mentallit of watching the EPL to Local soccer.U disappointed us not even an apology wil u give.
kachisa on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 11:53 AM
It looks like the ref from west africa was bitter that Zed spoiled the reputation of the hosts who were tipped to win the tournerment.
As for the Congo game lets remain focused & not underate our neighbours,they are a good side & in football anything is possible.
Lets go Zambia will always be with you boys.
Kudos to HR too for mentoring the boys keep up with good with the technical bench,Oh any news about the Ivory Coast coach,does he still have a job????
Seen from afar on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 11:58 AM
I’m not sure the ref was biased, he was just very intent on influencing the game, like he had to play as well. Renard is right to say something, because in that situation there is almost nothing you can do, so you should at least make him aware you don’t agree…
I will shake the hands of the guys if they won or not, i have no idea what the sports ministers(?) point was in that, but i wonder if he knows what sports are.
Big Steve from SA on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 12:46 PM
We have one win and two draws. We convincinly beat the team we initially thought would give us a headache (IC) and we also just pulled off a point from the team we initially thought would be the groups team to get points off (Tz). Soccer can be funny and show you that predictions and underating can cause you to be booted out of a tourney before you realise whats happening. Lets take it a game at a time. We are now in the knock-out stage and this is were a draw does not happen. So we seriously need to loose our drawing ways. I watched the DRC over the weekend, I think it is not a train smash to figure out a tactical aproach to the Congolese. If renard can get to the boys mentaly then we should not have a problem. Even though we pulled it off, we did underate the Tanzanians and they almost punished us for this though I see the ref was dodgy. We need to rebuild our cred on the continent and this is such a good chance. Only two wins left in this tournament will put us back into a driving seat on the African continent
Anonymous on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 1:18 PM
I think Senegal are second to us at this championship. Ghana are crap and so are RD Congo. Ama finals should be Zambia A Vs Zambia B chapwa
Anonymous on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 1:21 PM
Chipungu won’t shake your hands hahahahahaa
Seen from afar on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 3:02 PM
Yeah #14, i’m not sure what his point was, maybe i agree with him, but i don’t think he expressed his point very well or it didn’t make sense in the news. It is hard to understand…
Seen from afar on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 3:05 PM
Now we see, according to Uncle Bobs, that the players are being docked for a draw. That’s not good if it wasn’t agreed. Anyway, i hope this won’t affect the guys concentration, because this tournament is about more than pay or keeping minsters happy.
Brad Facken on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 5:17 PM
Watch, Zambia will fail! They are already getting over confident! Keep your feet on the ground lads and focus.
Seen from afar on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 7:13 PM
Zambia can loose, we’ve lost many times before. It will be disappointing , if we loose because the team have proven quite good, but it won’t be failure because we’ll be leaving in a much better position than when we arrived.
Justice kafusha on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 7:46 PM
Anyone can loose. It will be nice flying home with CHAN. Tansania flew home with ichani DR Congo walapapa
Justice kafusha on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 7:47 PM
We will win this time is yesu. Nangu ku kese indoshi
Justice kafusha on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 7:49 PM
West African
Anonymous on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 9:00 PM
Wafwa na panga! Sides which can dominate a game with strings of passes are difficult to beat and DRC are just capable of that. To stop that, our players will need to play with a high temple and hard tackling like the way the Senegalese started their game against us. The big boys like Kasonde must explore that option. A clever midfielder will not throw the first punch. When we win the physical battle then we may win confidently. Everyone will have to give everything, total concentration without much confrontation with the officials. You know some officials can be notoriety seekers, like some criminals are-I killed the famous one. On top of your winning and protests they can behave much worse. But it’s important for the coach to do mind games during the game and in the media. Well done HR.
Yes, I recall one game at Independence stadium. Congo took the first punch in that physical battle, some very light guy (yellow) made an old fashioned English tackle on Wisdom Chansa, dispossessed him and launched an attack. My God Wisdom rose from the ground and tracked back like a whirlwind (a lot of people must have thought wisdom is about to go in with a red card challenge) to disposes that guy who was moving into attack, ba Wisdom caught up, made a very meaty challenge that must have been intended to make a big statement on how the Congolese (then Zaire) were to conduct themselves in that game. I was young but I saw John Soko in defence getting or the cheers Sokoooo. I think we won by 3-2 or so-but we won; my memory is blurred due to the discomfort I experienced after the end of the game-a near stampede, the independence stadium was full beyond its capacity. Those are the day’s when people went in the stadium with radios; listening to Mr Liwewe on one side and watching and cheering on the other.
But the Congolese did beat us in one Africa Cup final isn’t it. So gods’ blessings, we need this one more than them
Billy on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 9:27 PM
Anonymous #22, Zambian won that game 4-2.
Billy on Mon, 2nd Mar 2009 9:31 PM
If recent results of the matces btn RDC and Zmb are to go by, then Zmb has an upper hand over RDC. It will be a tough game but a win for Zambia is most probable. My worry is if we again meet Senegal in the final, katwishi. I am not so worried about Ghana.
MartyUSA on Tue, 3rd Mar 2009 1:03 AM
Zambia will meet senegal again in the finals.
Marvin on Wed, 4th Mar 2009 11:06 AM
@chipolopolo 1
I watched that match from the hill coz Independence stadium was completely full to accomodate all of us. We whacked Zaire by 4-2. They featured the likes of Eugene Kabongo Ngoi and the current coach of DRC Santos Mutubile. This time we just need to keep our cool and play an all attacking game without losing concentration. But it is easier said than done. It will be taxing out there for the boys but the consolation is that they are playing as a unit unlike DRC who rely so much on Tresor Mputu Mabi. DRC is facing the barrel and the Chipolopolo is ready to fire! Chipolopolo Iyee!
Chopsticks on Wed, 4th Mar 2009 11:43 AM
i want zambiu notnb to win because i made a bet that if it doesnt i get a free manicure..sorry boys
Big Steve from SA on Wed, 4th Mar 2009 1:03 PM
@Chopsticks
I really hope you are a woman.