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Zambia vs Comoros special focus on Prince Mumba loooking at the performance in the group opener in Cote d’ivoire where Zambia was smashed 3-1.
Chipolopolo boys are back home in readiness for Comoros after a heavy defeat in Yamoussoukro. So much has been said about Prince Mumba in some analyses that are rather personal than fair.
Prince has been criticized for his looks and discriminated against for being a locally based player and not his performance because his shift in Yamasoukro was spotless.
To begin with, he played with caution maintaining a low line that gave cover to the central pairing of Musonda and Mwape. His perfect positioning and placement gave the defense some pillow of comfort.
With no ball lost or pass misplaced. The Kabwe Warriors captain played just inches below and above the center line which bridged the gap between the wings and wing backs restricting the indiscriminate moving forward of the wing-backs.
Of course, it was some placement that isolated Patson Daka but against an opponent that was technically and physically better, that’s what Zambia needed: Contain and use Fashion for ambushes when the chance is given.
Prince never lost possession of the ball and had no pass misplaced and seeing him withdrawn for players who had no defensive brains was shocking.
The double substitution at the birth of the half-exposed Asanovich’s weakness as a coach. He lacks a sense of purpose and conviction.
In football, the basics are sacred. You don’t make changes to a team that has not conceded unless you are in a hurry to score and you are in control of the game.
The team that started the match had contained Ivory Coast. Zambia had no right whatever to be in a hurry to score and win the match hurriedly because the Ivory Coast had more possession than Zambia.
So making substitutions to a team that is as stable as containing the Ivorians was madness. It immediately crippled the stability of the team as Chilufya and Banda went forward leaving a void in midfield that exposed the central defense.
Frankie Musonda
If Musonda has grown up in the cold weather of Britain and was playing for the first time in the scorching humidity of Yammasoukro against Africa’s best- Ivory Coast and he stood the pressure till the coach destabilized the team, it’s obvious he is as solid and stable as what Zambia needs.
He needs time to adapt and learn a lot about African football before he becomes perfect. Support him.
Bench Prince and Lameck
Unlike in Yamassoukro where Zambia needed to contain the Elephants, play with extreme caution and elude an embarrassing score line, the match against Comoros is now a must-win.
Zambia will need to launch quick lightning attacks from the start and this is where Asanovich will now need the attacking potency of Edward Chilufya and Emmanuel Banda or Larry Bwalya. Move Mwepu up into the lead playmaking role with Emmanuel Banda just behind him anchoring
