For the 5th day of the CAN 2023 playoffs, Zambia faced Côte d’Ivoire at home at Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday, June 17, 2023. This very balanced meeting on paper turned into an offensive recital of the Zambians. The Chipolopolo won 3-0 against all odds.
At the 31st minute, Zambia opened the scoring after a fantastic CSC by Serge Aurier. On this score, goalie Foly Ayayi is also to blame. He misread the trajectory that pushes the ball into his own cage. In the second period, the Zambians are powering up. The Avram Grant Men double the 48th minute mark by Patson Daka. He is the top scorer of the Zambian team. Kings Kangwa entered the party with a third goal in the 55th minute. A dry loss for the Ivorians who were unrecognizable.
Zambia returns to NPC after 8 years of absence
After three absences at the last three African Nations Cup, Zambia will return to the CAN. Chipolopolo are back. They will be well and good in Ivory Coast in January 2024. This after the brilliant victory (3-0) against the Elephants. They take the lead of Group H with 12 points. And they validate their qualification for the CAN 2023.
Since 2015, Zambia has not had the taste to compete for a CAN. Now it’s done. The Chipolopolo will be in Côte d’Ivoire early next year. Ironically, they get that qualification by shattering the host country. A victory that will give more confidence to Patson Daka and his partners. Offensively, it’s a team that hurt the Ivorians.
A defeat that will hurt the Ivorians. The team offered nothing in the game. There was never a change of pace. Gasset still has work to do seven months before the CAN.
