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Kalengo
Zambia will be favourites to progress following their 1-0 win over Sudan in a first-leg 2018 FIFA World Cup second round qualifier at the Karima Stadium on Wednesday.
The hosts took the game to the north of Sudan in an attempt to unsettle the 2012 African Cup of Nations winners, but a defensive mistake ultimately gifted George Lwandamina’s troops the narrow victory.
Sudan created the first opportunity of the game with Boya seeing his header over the crossbar from point-blank range in the 18th minute.
Chipolopolo tough gained the advantage 10 minutes later through Winston Kalengo following a mix-up between Akram El Hadi and Ramadan Agab who inadvertently teed up the Zesco United striker for an easy finish.
Rainford Kalaba went within inches of doubling Zambia’s lead in the 31st minute. The TP Mazembe attacker unlucky to see his long range effort canon off the crossbar before El Hadi was quick to deny the Zambian captain on the rebound.
Zambia retreated into their shell for the remainder of the game with the Falcons of Jediane’s best chance in the second stanza coming five minutes after the break. Mweene with an acrobatic save to deny Bakri Abdi El Khadir from an acute angle.
Kalengo had a chance to complete his brace in the 89th minute, the ball sat up favourable for the forward, but he was unable to direct his left-footed shot on target.
The reverse leg is scheduled for the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola this Sunday.
Sudan: Akram El Hadi; Ramadan Agab, Ali Safari, Masawi , Boya; El-Shigel, Saeed Moustafa, Faroug, Awad, Faris Abdullah, Bakri Madina
Zambia: Mweene; Kabaso, Mfune, Sunzu, Mkandawire; Sinkala, Katema; Lubambo, Mbesuma, Kalaba; Kalengo
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