As
the Afcon champions, Zambia have placed themselves in a perfect spot to fail
the defence of their title. A 1-1 draw with Nigeria stamped their departure
date as the last day of the group stages, soon after their encounter with
Burkina Faso.
Chipolopolo
may buy time by netting a handsome tally against the ‘upright men’, the
Burkinabe. This is given, as all might
have noticed the naivety of the fluent and free-flowing Ethiopians. The North Eastern
nation plays well going forward, but their central midfield and central defence
leak like a sieve.
Not
that they leak, but are too confident, to the detriment of their overall
performance. Nigerian will steam roll over them, especially if Steven Keshi is
brave enough to field his fringe players who have nothing to lose but
everything to gain.
The
Zambian predicament is worsened by the one foot Burkina Faso has in the
quarter-final after crushing Ethiopia 4-0. That score-line will be a confident
booster and the physical West Africans will push the champions to the maximum.
By
the same token, Ethiopia have no desire to play anymore and while that lack of
pressure may be lethal, it will be wise to play them with a motivated side of
fringe players who have a point to prove to the Nigerian population.
As
of now, The Burkinabe and the Super Eagles are through, unless the former give
it away in a silver platter.
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