Fashion - Victory was bigger than my hat-trick

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Nov 14, 2021. 12:00

Fashion Sakala says he treasures Saturday’s 4-0 home victory over Mauritania more than the hat-trick he scored for Chipolopolo in that FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B qualifier.

It was the Glasgow Rangers forwards’ debut Chipolopolo hat-trick and has now scored in successive games taking his tally to four goals in the Group B qualifiers.

“For me, I think I am very proud of the victory more than the hat-trick itself. I am very proud of the result,” Fashion said.

“I was not looking for a hat-trick but looking for a result to make the people of Zambia happy.

“When I came, I said that I was here to make the people of Zambia happy because sport is one of the things that unites us.”

Fashion struck in the 38th minute when he fired in a pass from Patson Daka who turned from scorer of the first goal in the 34th minute to architect four minutes later.

The Scottish -based striker then converted a 44th minute penalty after attacker Evans Kangwa of Arsenal Tula in Russia was fouled in the box to see Zambia take a three-zero halftime lead.

Fashion ensured he took home the ball in the 62nd minute with another fine strike after Lubambo Musonda rolled the ball into his path inside the box.

The result put third placed Zambia back in with a mathematical chance on 7 points, three points behind leaders Tunisia heading into their final Group B meeting on November 16.

Zambia visit Tunisia this Tuesday in Rades that they technically need to win 3-0 to pull off a dramatic upset in the pool and advance to the last ten playoff stages.

Meanwhile, it is hat-trick season for Fashion who is fresh off scoring three for Rangers in the Scottish Premiership during a 6-1 comeback victory over hosts Motherwell on October 31.

Fashions’ feat for Chipolopolo ends an eleven-year drought since Felix Sunzu scored four goals that also included a penalty, in a 6-0 demolition of Somalia at the 2010 CECAFA Cup in Tanzania.