Chambeshi - We have a plan for Tunisia

by Staff Reporter

Monday Sep 06, 2021. 18:00

Beston Chambeshi says did not take on Chipolopolo job to make excuses and is determined Zambia maintains its unbeaten start in Tuesday’s top-two Group B showdown against guests Tunisia at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Chipolopolo began their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B qualifiers with an efficient 2-1 away victory over Mauritania on September 3 that some critics insist was not a convincing performance.

The away victory saw Chipolopolo finish match-day-one in second place in Group B tied on 3 points with Tunisia who lead on goal difference following the latters’ 3-0 home win over Equatorial Guinea on the same date.

“Yes, Tunisia scored three goals at home and used home advantage to the fullest. But these days there is no such thing as home ground or away advantage for that matter but we will see how we will handle Tunisia,” Chambeshi said.

Chambeshi added that his mandate was to ensure that Chipolopolo were treated as a factor in the 2022 Qatar Group B qualifiers and in addition win their matches by any means necessary using methods may not please everyone.

“In football, there are no excuses as coach whether you came yesterday, tomorrow or come in three days. You are there and you have accepted this job and so they’re no excuses,” Chambeshi said.

“I am in charge, and we are moving ahead but the only thing here is we have had a very short period of time to work in-between the Mauritanian and Tunisian game.

“But we have shown our players what is on our drawing board, what they must do and the importance of Tuesday’s game.”

Chambeshi will be without his English-based star players namely Leicester City striker Patson Daka and Brighton midfielder Enock Mwepu.

Mwepu captained and scored for Zambia in the win over Mauritania and played the full game together with Patson.

The duo returned to England after the match to avoid the prospect of undergoing a ten-day mandatory quarantine for travellers entering the UK from Zambia which is on the Covid-19 Red-Listed nations.

However, the availability of Clatous Chama is a huge boost after the Moroccan-based midfielder from RS Berkane missed the Mauritania match due to a visa hitch.