South Africa were given a lesson in just how tough the upcoming AFCON tournament will be when they were beaten 1-0 in the Nelson Mandela Challenge by reigning African champions Zambia at Soccer City on Wednesday night.
PSL-based striker Collins Mbesuma scored the only goal of the game just after the hour mark, handing Chipolopolo a victory which serves as revenge for their 2-1 loss in the inaugural NMC match back in 1994. It is Bafana Bafana’s first home loss since they were beaten by the USA in the NMC in 2010.
The first half saw little in the way of goalmouth action, as the teams struggled to create clear scoring chances on a Soccer City pitch that was well below its usual high standards due to a rock concert staged at the venue this past weekend.
After a relatively bright start from Bafana Bafana, Zambia took control of the game and began to threaten with long range shots and set pieces, though goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune managed to keep them at bay without having to stretch too much.
South Africa did suffer one major disappointment within the first 30 minutes when striker Tokelo Rantie was forced off with a knee injury (he was replaced by Katlego Mashego), while the hosts ended the half with Absa Premiership leading goal scorer Bernard Parker also struggling with a knock.
Parker made way at the start of the second half for in-form SuperSport United striker kermit Erasmus, while another attacker who has impressed this season, Platinum Stars’ Thuso Phala, made his debut when he replaced Sifiso Myeni in the 52nd minute.
However, it was a Zambia substitute, Collins Mbesuma, who broke the deadlock in the 64th minute with a fierce drive that ripped into the top corner of the net and gave Khune no chance whatsoever.
Former Moroka Swallows striker James Chamanga should have doubled Chipolopolo’s advantage 10 minutes later when Thabo Nthethe missed a cross from the left flank, but the substitute missed the target from close range.
On 77 minutes Ricardo Nunes provided an excellent delivery from a corner kick that had the beating of Kennedy Mweene and picked out Erasmus at the far post, but the youngster was unable to get over his header and directed his effort high and wide.
Three minutes later Delron Buckley earned his 73rd Bafana Bafana cap by coming off the bench to replace Dean Furman – it was the Maritzburg United player’s first national team appearance since playing against Sierra Leone in a World Cup qualifier in 2008.
Zambia should have had a chance to extend their lead late on when Mbesuma was tripped up in the penalty area by Bafana captain Bongani Khumalo, but Swaziland referee Simanga Nhleko didn’t point to the spot.
The hosts almost took advantage in the last minute of regulation time when Erasmus had a shooting chance in the box, only to be denied by an excellent save from Mweene, while Mashego was unable to capitalise on the rebound.
South Africa 0
Zambia (0) 1 (Mbesuma 64’)
SA: Khune, Ngcongca, Khumalo, Nthethe, Nunes, Dikgacoi (Letsholonyane 65’), Furman (Buckley 80’), Chabangu (Modise 73’), Myeni (Phala 52’), Rantie (Mashego 28’), Parker (Erasmus 46’)
Zambia: Mweene, Nkausu (Mbola 55’), Sunzu, Himoonde, Musonda, Lungu (Njobvu 77’), Sinkala, Chansa (M. Mulenga 61’), J. Mulenga (Mbesuma 46’), Mayuka (Chamanga 69’), C. Katongo (Sakuwaha 60’)
mtnfootball
Match Report: Zambia Ends 2012 Year On a High, Bafana Taught How Football Is Played added by Staffreporter on
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It is a long time since I heard that Mbesuma has scored for Zambia.
Awe goal yaba mbesuma nizi
chipolopolo …..iyeee
We are now tired with Continental trophies, lets go and get the 2014 world cup in Brazil. No excuses here. Ka Thomas Mlambo shamed at his backyard just like we shamed mamadou.
Mbesuma if you continue like that soon you will regain public confindence. I miss kalaba pa mid
There is a boy from Power Dynamos coming up so well i guess the same pass which earned Mbesuma a goal was from the same boy.
That was a good training boys we expect more
Ba Z (chipolopolo fans) tabomfwa elobatolokela muchibansa after a goal kwaba na tight security afterwards. ningumfwa bwino pantu ngabaleumfwa if they beat us.
What happened to Jacob Mulenga?Did he throw a tantrum after being substituted?He was not there for the prize giving.
PF victory,CHIPOLOPOLO victory,another win awe twasefya HH will continue crying na mu 2016 uzalila
kalya akamwaice ka mulenga kalinabola ekachipela mbesuma mambala eloauma iyakapatulula
First sentence Ati “south africa were give a lesson” ninsh muzaka ziba liti chizungu
Mbesuma has been doing well, if you follow the South African PLS he has been scoring.Recently he scored two goals in one match for Pirates! He is on FIRE!!
Mbesuma is a among the top scorers in PLS in South africa his de best here
Thanks so much for the link I watched the game on my PC in the serenity of my home.
We thank God for this win.l love you chipolopolo.
Congrats african champs. The coach still needs a lot of work and make good tactical substitutions. How does he let guys with yellow cards play on and substitute chaps without cards and playing well. We have good players who need excellent technical guidance. FAZ we need more friendlies with stronger teams e.g brazil, argentina or spain.
If Mbesuma maintains da standard he desplayed last night, he will win himself coach confidence. He was all over da pitch & played with all his efforts. But Chamanga is still a late down as he repeated wat he did wen we played Uganda at home missing an obvious chance.
Where can I watch the highlights??
come
It was a wonderful result although I was not satisfied with the overall performance.
The game showed that we needed something special in the middle of the park. We needed Kalaba or Clifford. Can the Coach swallow his pride and bring back the wonder-boy, he has skill. we shall continue to pray for his behavioral change.
our Presido, Micheal Sata has brought all this luck we are currently enjoying pa Zed. Since when did Zambia win a trophy? Until Micheal Sata became presido that is when we have started eperiencing all these success. Bravo MCS! Viva Pf!! Pa bwaaatoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo………….!!! I think ba tata ba Sata bu presido nabu basumina sana. This is a good sign of so many good things soon to come in Zamba. HH was quoted this morning saying he hates to see Zambia score so many successes under King Cobra too soon.
@supporters, instead of praising, u are giving nagative comments, they did well, South Africa is not an underdog team, for this period say something positive to motivate them, then corrections later, some of you who are giving nagative on some players have never even killed a fly. good work boys, south african mourned, sorry, guys,
wina analila, spain here we come watch out.
wapya munzi
Ba Zed bakalifye balitotela ba sawe pa home Bafikala ba tupola namabwe
Balikwata utupiya na amacinci and they lack respect for other teams.We did them good,Africa baichailefye! Viva govt for motivation,Viva coach for instructions,Viva Zambians for support!
The boys had a good game,we saw 60% of what we witnessed in Gabon .the trying of combinations in front was good. Mbesuma- am one chritic of the chap but l will give him 109% for that cracker why? He shot from outsode the box, he shot coming out of a fast turn,he changed the game, he made that bafanabafana defender dance the shibobo and created that penalty.Midfield, l think the boys who came in after Chisamba Did a comendable job, they just need three to four more games, our pass accuracy was at 70%, we need to polish it.free kicks, Jacob and Mbesuma are a discovery.
I totally agree with Solidified and Wa John Uzo. First and 4most congrats and grease to your elbows ba Chipolopolo. Secondly, we need to play with stronger teams from Europe and other continents where footble is competitive. If you want to prove yourself how worth you are as a champion, you need to play champions, thirdly we need the services of Cliford Mulenga in the midfield, hence it is my humble prayer just like others that we need Herve to 4give the young man. Lastly, lets organize for another friendly with a North African team like Moroco, Tunisia or fare enough Egypt. Go zambia Go.
A good win! We needed that going into 2013 for the AFCON in SA. However, the coaching staff really must work on the passing; we kept losing balls especially in the midfield. Too many loose passes. Against a sharp, well-drilled side like Nigeria, we could be punished for such lapses. I loved the play from Mukuka Mulenga though! Reminds me of Kalaba; that same quick movement on and off the ball, little one-twos into tiny pockets of space, skillful, close ball-control… whew! Just amazing!
Veli tulu
who are next? i think France or Spain.
patali apo mwana.
Chipolopolo iyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!
ba zambia tulifikali. sa twamisepa muicailefye
Good Mbesuma.I’m now getting wondering who the best striker for Zambia is.All the Zambian five strikers seem to be good.But who are the top two to be used by Renard during the Africa cup?
@ paulo awe we need to try out. USA perhaps.
Mbesuma, Jacob Mulenga and Mayuka could make a very deadly combination with Kalaba and Mukuka Mulenga in the middle of the Park, we ca bring any house down!!!!
Ba Tumfweko mwilaba sana excited this was just a friendly. The headline differs from the story you lifted from MTN. It doesnt say S Africa were taught a lesson on how football is played. It says South Africa were given a lesson in just how tough the upcoming AFCON tournament will be. Ala!
I give up, have a nice day all of you at Tumfweko. I am not one to be upset! Its okay for you not to publish my congrats to the Chipolopolo. Won’t change anything, we still won!