CHAN Group D:
Uganda 1-1 Zimbabwe
Zambia 0-0 Mali
Zambia and Mali played to a goalless draw as both sides advanced to the quarter finals of the 2016 African Championship of Nations (CHAN) at the Kigali Regional Stadium in Nyamirambo on Wednesday.
The result meant that Uganda for the third straight time at the championship failed to make it out of the group which was target this time round.
The Cranes didn’t help themselves as a second half strike by William Manondo silenced an already dull but expectant Ugandan fans in the terraces of Umuganda Stadium.
In Nyamirambo, it was Mali though who had an upper hand offensively in the first 45 minutes with Lassana Samake forcing match winning saves out of Jacob Banda as Zambia’s three man attack led by skipper Christopher Katongo, Patson Daka and Clatous Chama was kept quiet by Mali’s backline.
The second half was more dull as Zambia made sure they limit Mali’s touches on the ball especially in the latter’s final third and the West Africans were doing the same thing at the other end of the field.
Zambia’s first substitute was defensively as coach George Lwandamina withdrew right back Solomon Sakala for another defender Buchiziya Mfune. Mali’s Djibril Drame brought off Abdoulaye Diarra for N’guessan Koume, later Mamadou Coulibaly came on for Sekou Koita.
With ten minutes to play, it looked like both sides were comfortable with the scoreline as the game ended goalless.
Zambia topped Group D with seven points followed by Mali on five, Uganda finished third in two while Zimbabwe finished last in the group with just one.
Zambia and Mali advance to the last eight where they will play Guinea and Tunisia respectively on Monday and Tuesday.
Team Line-ups:
Zambia Starting XI: Jacob Banda, Solomon Sakala (Buchizya Mfune), Stephen Kabamba, Christopher Munthali, Spencer Sautu, Christopher Katongo (Mwape Mwelwa, ), Benson Sankala, Adrian Chama, Jackson Chirwa, Clatous Chota Chama, Patson Daka (Adamson Musekwa) Unused Subs: Donashano Malama, Isaac Chansa, Conlyde Luchanga, Mwape Mwelwa, George Chilufya, Tresford Lawrence Mulenga, Mwila Phiri, Daut Musekwa, Rachar Kola
Mali’s Starting XI: Djigui Diarra, Hamed Marius Assoko, Diarra Sekou, Abdoul Aziz Toure (Lamine Traore), Hamidou Sinayoko, Massaba Samake, Moussa Sissoko, Aliou Deing, Abdoulaye Diarra (N’Guessan Kouame), Abdoul Karim Dante, Koita Sekou (Mamadou Coulibaly) Unused subs: Samuel Diarra, Ousmane Diarra, Abdoulaye Traore, Issaka Samake, Yves Bissouma, Oumar Kone, Mamadou Doumbia, N’Guessan Kouame, Yaya Samake, Alassane Diallo
