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Zambia optimistic of qualifying to Africa Cup finals

Xinhua, March 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

Head coach of the Zambia national soccer team George Lwandamina has expressed optimism that the country will qualify to the Africa Cup of Nations finals despite dropping four points in the last two qualifying games, the Times of Zambia reported on Tuesday.

Zambia drew 1-all against Congo Brazzaville last Wednesday and repeated the same score line in the return leg on Sunday in Group E qualifier games, leaving the Chipolopolo on third position with six points, the same as Congo who have a superior goal aggregate while Guinea-Bissau leads the group with seven points. Kenya has one point.

But the Zambian trainer said the Chipolopolo were still in the hunt for a place at the 2017 Gabon Africa Cup of Nations finals.

He expressed confidence that Zambia will pick up all six remaining points in the qualifiers against Kenya at home and away in Guinea-Bissau.

"We are driven by the objective of qualifying to the Africa Cup of Nations, there are two more games to go and the battle is still on, we are still in it. There are six points still on offer and I am hopeful that we can get maximum points and go top of our group and qualify," he is quoted saying by the paper.

The trainer said it was unfortunate that the 2012 Africa up winners were held to a draw in both legs by Congo-Brazzaville.

Team that finish top of each group automatically qualify to the finals while two places have been reserved for the best second placed teams from 11 of the 13 groups. Endit