Zambia thrashes Sudan 3-0

Kumasi, Jan 22, GNA - Zambia scored an emphatic 3-0 victory over Sudan in the second match of Group 'C' African Cup of Nations match played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi on Tuesday. The white-shirted Zambians, who kicked off first, scored a second minute goal through James Chamanga following a lapse in the Sudanese defence.

The Sudanese, who could not find their rhythm, continued to be under pressure but the Zambians failed to score again in the seventh minute when Chamanga crossed into the path of Felix Katongo, whose feeble shot crawled over the line. The defensive-minded Sudanese repulsed the attack in the 15th minute but failed to level up as Damak Kuku Amir hit the side-post with a curling shot.

Moments later, Sudanese attacker Hussan Al Malik outpaced the hard-tackling Zambians defence but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Jacob Mulenga.

In the 18th minute, Sudanese full-back Mohamed Bakhit Omer attracted the yellow card for a hard tackle on Hachilensa Clive. The red-shirted Sudanese, cheered on wildly by the crowd, launched incessant attacks on the Zambians, confusing them with quick runs, inter-positional play, fast-dashes and defence splitting moves, yet failed to equalize.

The fleet-footed Zambians scored the second goal through slippery Kennedy Nketani in the 50th minute in a goalmouth scramble. The Sudanese, who could not match the resilience of the Zambians, conceded the third goal through Katongo from a defence-splitting move in the 59th minute.

From then on, the Zambians had the ball to themselves as their opponents struggled to keep pace with the game. Zambian Ian Bakala won the Samsung fair-play award while Mustafa Karar Haittham of Sudan was adjudged the MTN man-of-the match.

Line up: Zambian: Jacob Mulenga, Kennedy Nketani, Joseph Musonda, Ian Bakala, Adubelo Phiri/Emmanuel Mayuka, Kennedy Mweene, Rainford Kalaba, Billy Mwanza, Clive Hachilensa, Felix Katongo, James Chamanga/Clifford Mulenga.

Sudan: Mohamed Bakhit Omer, Ali Khider Mohamed, Jastein Lado Ritshard, Ahmed Gibril Alaeldin, Mustafa Karar Haitham, Hamoda Mohamed Bashir/Saifeldin Farah Idris Ali, Haytham Tambal Kamal, Eldin Badr Abdalla Eldoud, Mugahid Mohamed Ahmed, Elmuez Abdalla Muhgoub, Faisat Sido Agab/Eldin Ala Babiker.