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78′
Emmanuel Mayuka
2012 Africa Cup of Nations Preview: Zambia - Ghana
The Blacks Stars’ dream of annexing their fifth continental trophy depends largely on Wednesday’s match against a piercing Copper Bullets side
By Kent Mensah
Panoramic
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PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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ZAMBIA
 Mweene N Mulenga, Himonde, Kasonde, Musonda Sinkala, F Katongo C Katongo, Mbesuma, Chansa Mayuka |
GHANA
 Kwarasey Inkoom, Mensah, Vorsah, Boye Asamoah, Badu, Annan, Ayew Asamoah Gyan |
It has been a long and arduous battle for both countries to come this far in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, which has been rocked by a number of upsets.
Ghana have by far lived up to their pre-tournament favourites tag despite a few lapses in some of their games. The Black Stars outpaced the Zebras of Botswana in a 1-0 opening group game followed by the Eagles of Mali in a 2-0 fixture before drawing 1-1 against the Syli Natonale of Guinea to top Group D.
The four-time African champions’ quarter-final duel with the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia was a breathtaking one. It was a nervy 120-minute game that ended 2-1 in favour of an extremely exhausted Ghana side. The Ghanaians are within range to annex the trophy for a fifth time.
However, a very disciplined Zambia side led by a determined military officer, Christopher Katongo, stand in the way of the Black Stars clinching the ultimate prize. The Chipolopolo are at a stage that few would have tipped them to reach prior to the 28th edition of the continental showpiece. They have fought in every game as if it were a final and beating co-hosts Equatorial Guinea and pre-tournaments favourites Senegal in the group stage reveals a great deal about coach Herve Renard’s side.
There are no injury or suspension concerns on both fronts and each team is expected to field their best 11 in a battle that will take a brave man to predict.
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DID YOU KNOW? |
- Zambia coach Herve Renard was an assistant coach of Ghana during the 2008 Nations Cup when the Black Stars finished third.
- The captain of the Chipolopolo Christopher Katongo is a military officer and has had his rank elevated following his sterling performance in the competition.
- The moniker of the southern Africans, the Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets), was arrived at because the country is endowed in rich copper.
- Ghana have only conceded two goals in the tournament out of four games so far.
- Ghana will be playing their third successive semi-final in a row over the last three tournaments since 2008.
- Coach Goran Stevanovic becomes the second Serbian coach in a row to have taken the west Africans to this stage of the tournament after Milovan Rajevac’s feat in 2010.
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Zambia 0-2 Ghana
- 21.41 %
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Zambia 2-1 Ghana
- 16.27 %
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Zambia 1-2 Ghana
- 14.56 %
| Africa Cup of Nations (ACN) | 08-Feb-2012 | Zambia 1 - Ghana 0 |
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| International Friendlies (FR) | 12-Aug-2009 | Ghana 4 - Zambia 1 |
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Zambia
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| 02-Jun-2012 | Sudan 2 - Zambia 0 | WCQA |
| 13-Feb-2012 | Zambia 0 - Ivory Coast 0 | ACN |
| 08-Feb-2012 | Zambia 1 - Ghana 0 | ACN |
| 04-Feb-2012 | Zambia 3 - Sudan 0 | ACN |
| 29-Jan-2012 | Equatorial Guinea 0 - Zambia 1 | ACN |
Ghana
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| 01-Jun-2012 | Ghana 7 - Lesotho 0 | WCQA |
| 01-Mar-2012 | Chile 1 - Ghana 1 | FR |
| 12-Feb-2012 | Ghana 0 - Mali 2 | ACN |
| 08-Feb-2012 | Zambia 1 - Ghana 0 | ACN |
| 06-Feb-2012 | Ghana 2 - Tunisia 1 | ACN |
| 16 | Kennedy Mweene | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Francis Kasonde | Midfielder |
| 4 | Joseph Musonda | Defender |
| 5 | Hijani Himoonde | Defender |
| - | Davies Nkausu | Defender |
| 13 | Stophira Sunzu | Defender |
| 8 | Isaac Chansa | Midfielder |
| 17 | Rainford Kalaba | Midfielder |
| - | Nathan Sinkala | Midfielder |
| 11 | Christopher Katongo | Midfielder |
| 12 | James Chamanga | Striker |
| 1 | Kalililo Kakonje | Goalkeeper |
| - | Joshua Titima | Goalkeeper |
| 15 | Chintu Kampamba | Defender |
| - | N. Mulenga | Defender |
| 10 | Felix Katongo | Midfielder |
| 14 | Noah Chivuta | Midfielder |
| 12 | Jonas Sakuwaha | Midfielder |
| - | Chisamba Lungu | Striker |
| 9 | Collins Mbesuma | Striker |
| - | Evans Kangwa | Striker |
| 21 | Emmanuel Mayuka | Striker |
| 12 | Adambathia Kwarasey | Goalkeeper |
| - | John Mensah | |
| 6 | Samuel Inkoom | Defender |
| 18 | Lee Addy | Defender |
| - | John Boye | Defender |
| 19 | Anthony Annan | Midfielder |
| 9 | Derek Boateng | Midfielder |
| 21 | Kwadwo Asamoah | Midfielder |
| - | Asamoah Gyan | |
| 10 | André Ayew | Midfielder |
| - | Jordan Ayew | Striker |
| 1 | Daniel Adjei | Goalkeeper |
| - | Ernest Sowah | Goalkeeper |
| 14 | Daniel Opare | Defender |
| - | John Paintsil | |
| - | Masahudu Alhassan | Defender |
| 15 | Isaac Vorsah | Defender |
| 4 | Jonathan Mensah | Defender |
| 11 | Sulley Ali Muntari | Midfielder |
| - | Mohammed Abu | |
| - | Prince Tagoe |
Results
Times In IST
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Prince Oniangue
Midfielder Congo |
2 | 1 |
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T. Mputu
Striker RD Congo |
2 | 0 |
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Atusaye Nyondo
Striker Malawi |
2 | 0 |
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A. Kaluyituka
Striker RD Congo |
2 | 0 |
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Léger Djimrangar
Defender Chad |
2 | 0 |