Mozambique end Zambia’s 2019 Afcon hopes

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Nov 18, 2018. 18:00

Zambia’s chance of playing at the 2019 African Cup of Nations came to an end on Sunday after losing 1-0 to Mozambique in a Group K match at the Estádio Nacional do Zimpeto.

The result means Zambia are bottom of Group K with four points from five matches and only one game left in qualifying, three points behind third placed Mozambique and four points behind joint group leaders Namibia and Guinea-Bissau.

Mozambique, on the other hand, are still in with a shout of qualifying for the Afcon proper next year due to Namibia and Guinea-Bissau playing to a goalless draw on Saturday.

The match itself at the Estádio Nacional do Zimpeto on Sunday was not the most entertaining.

Both Zambia and Mozambique were cagey from the get-go and neither risked sending too many players forward in search of goal.

The home side, though, did control the flow of play for the most part in the first 45 but their finishing in front of goal was poor.

Zambia offered very little in attack and were lucky to get to the break with the match locked at 0-0.

Mozambique upped the stakes in the second half and started applying more pressure on the Zambian goal.

The away team were rewarded for their efforts just after the hour mark when a clinical finish from Reginaldo Artur Faife gave Mozambique the lead, 1-0.

Zambia tried to fight their way back into the match by Mozambique defended stoutly and were able to hold on for the win CLICK HERE TO VISIT AFRICAN FOOTBALL ZAMBIA