Zambia to face Cape Verde in last Group B Afcon tie

IANS
The 2012 champions Zambia face-off against Cape Verde in a must-win tie

Bata (Equatorial Guinea), Jan 26 (IANS): Former Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) champions Zambia will face an early exit, if they fail to beat Cape Verde in the last Group B match of the on-going football tournament Monday.

Coach Honour Janza's team, who won the 2012 edition, have only accumulated one point, after starting with a 1-1 draw against Democratic Republic of Congo, before falling 1-2 to Tunisia who now lead the group.

"We have no choice but to go all out and attack from the start in search of goals because we badly need a win. But we also need to be very cautious at the back so that we do not concede," Rainford Kalaba, the Zambian skipper, told Xinhua Sunday.

Striker Emmanuel Mayuka who limped off in the loss to Tunisia after he had scored will need a late fitness test by the medical team to assess if he is fit for the game.

Emmanuel Mbola, Mulenga Mukuku and experienced South Africa-based goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene are all expected to make the starting team.

The Cape Verde team have picked two 1-1 draws in their previous two games.

Antonio Varela Monteiro and Jeffry Fortes who play their club football in Netherlands are expected to lead the Cape Verde team.

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