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ZAMBIA COACH’S PERFECT RECORD

15/10/2019 14:27:00 Ashmond Nzima

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MBABANE – Zambia interim coach Aggrey Chiyangi boasts a perfect record ahead of Saturday’s decisive CHAN Qualifier.

Sihlangu will play ‘Chipolopolo’, as Zambia are widely known, in a final round second leg African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier in Lusaka. Chiyangi is yet to lose a game in 10 outings since coming on board in March this year. In his capacity as interim coach, he has steered the side to six wins and four draws. He took over from Belgian, Sven Vandebrock. This is according to statistics provided by the Zambian media. In May this year, Chiyangi guided Chipolopolo to a fifth title of the 2019 Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) tournament.

Beat

Chiyangi beat all Southern African teams paired against Zambia, including 2019 AFCON Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) participants, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Recent games were against Niger and Benin and they ended in 1-all and 2-2 draws in the past week. These were friendly matches. “It is, however, his tactical approach and style of play that has not gone down well with some sections of soccer fans, in spite of massive results. The former Zanaco FC and Nkana FC coach is fondly known for taking a cautious and reactive approach during matches, which some fans have described as ‘unattractive’ style of football,” reported the Zambian Football website.

Aggrey Chiyangi likes to play with a compact defensive half and wait for opponents to lose concentration before unleashing his sucker-punching goals, mostly in second halves. His trademark reactive approach has seen Zambia come back from behind to force a 2-all draw against Malawi, and also defeat Botswana 3-2 at home, after trailing by two goals. Chiyangi has since broken the jinx of defeating Southern African teams after Zambia failed to qualify to the 2019 AFCON following back to back defeats to neighbours Mozambique and a draw away in Namibia.

Meanwhile, Sihlangu and Zambia will face off at Heroes National Stadium at 3pm. After a 0-1 setback in the reverse fixture, Eswatini needs to score two unanswered goals to be guaranteed a spot in the CHAN finals to be staged in Cameroon next year.