Chipolopolo Set Sights on Egypt Showdown in Friendly Match
The Chipolopolo Boys are gearing up for a high-profile friendly match against Egypt in the United Arab Emirates. Scheduled to take place at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, this game represents an important opportunity for Zambia to gauge its performance against one of Africa’s football giants.
Midfield maestro, Emmanuel Banda, recognizes the significance of this friendly encounter. He believes that such high-profile games are crucial for the Chipolopolo Boys to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses ahead of crucial assignments. In the build-up to the match, Banda expressed his confidence and stated that the team aims for a victory to boost their morale. Importantly, he highlighted that the squad isn’t fazed by Egypt’s star-studded lineup, including the likes of Liverpool’s prolific forward, Mohamed Salah.
Banda shared, “It’s a very important high-profile friendly match against the Egyptians, and we expect a very good game. It will help us gauge how good we are at the moment. So we are really looking forward to this kind of friendly game.”
One significant advantage that Zambia holds is the cohesion the team has developed over time. “I think the fact that we have played together for some time as a team is essential for us. We have gelled more, we understand each other more, and we will try to improve on our weaknesses. Now we are more of a team,” Banda pointed out.
The primary goal for Zambia in this friendly clash is to secure a victory. Banda emphasized, “We have to take it as a must-win game. We will go out there, play our hearts out, and get the win. We need the wins to gain confidence.”
He also reiterated the fact that intimidation has no place in modern football, stating, “There is nothing intimidating in football anymore. We are all eleven and play the same football. We all have good players. We will all bring our A-game, so it will be interesting to see how it pans out after 90 minutes.”
The team captain, Lubambo Musonda, echoed the sentiment that this match is crucial for Zambia’s preparations. He highlighted that the game offers valuable experience as the team gears up for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in January.
“It’s important to the team because we are preparing for the World Cup qualifiers and the AFCON in January, so we are looking forward to that,” Musonda explained.
Despite the presence of Egypt’s star-studded squad, Musonda’s message was clear: Zambia is ready to face the challenge. He expressed his confidence, saying, “Yes, they will come with their stars, but we have a team that wants to fight on the pitch and give everything. That’s enough for us.”
With the match set to kick off at 20:00 hours local time (18:00 hours Zambian time), excitement is building among fans as they eagerly anticipate this high-stakes encounter. The game will also be broadcast live on SuperSport.
The friendly against Egypt is just the beginning of Zambia’s journey as they continue their preparations and seek to make an impact in international football.
