ZAMBIA’S DREAM FOR QATAR 2022 WORLD CUP DASHED

ZAMBIA’Snational soccer team fondly known as Chipolopolo Boys last Sunday suffered yet another setback in the country’s quest to qualify for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup. This follows the Bestone Chambeshi- coached side drawing 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.

Zambia four days earlier and prior to last Sunday’s match was beaten 2-0 by Equatorial Guinea in a back to back fixture. The home team created a myriad of scoring chances in the first half which went begging.

Zambia found the back of the net in the 63rd minute through Fashion Sakaka to put the Chipolopolo Boys in the lead. However, Fashion’s goal was good but not good enough in that Equatorial Guinea equalised through Fredrico Nchama barely nine minutes to full time.

The restoring of parity by Equatorial Guinea meant that Zambia is all but out of the World Cup race. Mauritania and Tunisia, the other teams in Group B last Sunday played to a goalless draw.

After last Sunday’s matches, the complexion of the table in Group B is that Tunisia is leading with 10 points, Equatorial Guinea with 7 points, Zambia with 4 points and Mauritania with a point. It is an undeniable fact that Zambia will play the remaining two games as a mere formality.

The rate at which the football standards are plummeting in Zambia is a source of concern. Zambia was once a football powerhouse and the team failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament in three consecutive football tournaments in 2016, 2018 and 2020.

The reasons for this decline are in the public domain and there is need to find the panacea or rather a lasting solution. The right time to check the falling football standards is now. Tough luck for Zambia for missing out on the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup. Otherwise, Zambia’s failure to qualify is a bitter pill to swallow.