20th May 2016

Written by: Mattar M’Boge

ZAMBIA National Team Analysis Report

© Copyright M A MBOGE (author) May 2016 2

Gambia vs ZAMBIA

FIFA Friendly Analysis of formation, style of play, team units, players, strengths, weaknesses

Team analysed: ZAMBIA

System: George LWANDAMINA prefers a flexible 1-4-4-2 system but can play 1-4-2-3-1 or 1-4-5-1 depending on the game-plan. The team is settled with a strong defensive unit, led by a

talented goalkeeper, two hard working central midfielders with pacey and clinical strikers who provide the goals.

Squad: This a talented team with some of the players who won the AFCON in 2012, that was built on a strong home-based unit. The team is built around the partnership between SINKALA

(8) and KALABA (17) in midfield and the clinical finishing of KALENGO who has four goals in his four games, a goal in each game. There is a question mark over set-pieces and the team has

struggled in this area.

Style of Play: Emphasis is on passing and movement with a mix of direct play up to the twin forwards and quick transition from defense to attack. They have a very dangerous forward line of

KALENGO (10) and MBESUMA (9). At the heart of the team is the flexible midfield pairing of SINKALA (8) and the captain KALABA (17). The team has plenty of pace and power up front and

on the wings, with the strikers happy to drift wide in order to create chances.

Key features of the team:

Good individual technique

Strong dribbling skills

Ball-winning ability in 1 v 1 situations

Attacking power in 1 v 1 situations

Ability to change pace suddenly

Distinct wing play

Athletic players

Players with pace

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LAST FOUR GAMES:-

Tactical behaviour: Zambia play a flexible 1-4-4-2 formation. The flat back four is marshalled by two central defenders, SUNZU (4) and either CHAMA (4) or MFUNE (5). The full-back

positions are occupied by KABAMBA (3) on the left and KABASO (12) or NKAUSU (6), with the latter often making forays to join attacks. SINKALA (8) is joined in central midfield by the

more attack-minded playmaker KALABA (17). Zambia often regain possession in this area because the wingers, MUSONDA (18), on the left and either CHIRWA (14), KATONGO (11) on the

right, will drop back into central midfield when opponents are in possession. This keeps the game narrow and makes it difficult for the opposition to cut through the Zambian defence. The two

strikers, MBESUMA (9) and KALENGO (10) have few defensive duties. Every Zambian player is comfortable in possession and shows good pace, impressive dribbling skills and excellent fitness

levels. The defensive midfielders are responsible for launching attacks with long balls down the middle or diagonally towards the strikers, who will often rotate positions to create space for

advancing midfielders such as KALABA and MUSONDA. The two full-backs also join attacks by advancing up the flanks, whereas SINKALA will look to push up from defensive midfield if there

are any openings. KALABA and SINKALA have an excellent shot from distance. In general, the Zambians will not be afraid to shoot from outside the penalty area.

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Zambia Squad for games vs Togo (a), The Gambia (a), Guinea-Bissau (a)

*Probable starters in bold

Goalkeepers: 16 Kennedy Mweene (Mamelodi Sundowns/RSA), Danny Munyao (Red Arrows), Racha Kola (Zanaco)

Defenders: 5 Buchizya Mfune (Green Buffaloes), Stephen Kabamba (Green Buffaloes), Adrian Chama (Green Buffaloes), 6 Davies Nkausu (Free State

Stars/RSA), 13 Stopilla Sunzu (Lille/FRA), 3 Chongo Kabaso (TP Mazembe/DRC), Boyd Mkandawire (Napsa Stars)

Midfielders: Steward Chikandiwa (Nkwazi), Paul Katema (Red Arrows), 8 Nathan Sinkala (TP Mazembe/DRC), Chisamba Lungu (FC Ural/RUS), Salulani Phiri

(Zanaco), 18 Lubambo Musonda (Gandzasar Karpan/ARM), 17 Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe/DRC), 11 Christopher Katongo (Green Buffaloes), Clatous

Chama (Zesco United)

Strikers: 9 Collins Mbesuma (Mpumalanga Black Aces/RSA), 10 Winston Kalengo (AC Leopards/Congo), Evans Kangwa (Hapoel Raanana /ISL), Conlyde

Luchanga (Lusaka Dynamos)

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Squad Attributes (by unit)

GOALKEEPER – Kennedy MWEENE (16) has plenty of experience and is the vice-captain of the team and plays in South Africa for newly crowned champions Sundowns, although he is

the back-up option. He is known for his penalty-saving and penalty-taking skills and is arguably one of the best goalkeepers in Africa and that Zambia has ever produced, with over 100 caps

and he was also awarded goalkeeper of the tournament at AFCON 2012. He has good height and presence and is comfortable dealing with high

balls and crosses into the box but is slow coming off his line to sweep through balls. He is very good on the ball, with good technique and strong

kicking, he also has good throwing ability. He plays as the reserve keeper in his club so it can be difficult for him to make the step up at

international level. The alternatives include domestic-based goalkeepers Danny MUNYAO and Raja KOLA. MUNYAO is the more experienced of

the two who is a good shot-stopper and quick off his line. KOLA has similar attributes but has to work on his positional sense, timing and

command of the area, he is also yet to gain significant experience at international level.

DEFENDERS – Davies NKAUSU (6) is their most versatile defender who has the ability to play anywhere in the back-line. Although he is

usually deployed at right-back, NKAUSU has also played as a left-back, central defender and midfielder for club and country. He has been praised

for his anticipation and timing in order to intercept, with a good work–rate and strong in the tackle which allows him to come out on top against

most wingers. He is also an agile defender with a long throw which is sometimes used when he is played at full-back. His positioning is a weakness

and he can be caught out drifting into midfield and he can also suffer from lack of concentration which leads to him making mistakes. However, he

is an attacking threat with the composure, pace and creativity to cause problems when he joins the attack. Chongo KABASO (6) is similar in that

he is also quick but poor in the air, even though he has is mainly used as a right-back. He can also be slow to react to danger and can

struggle to follow the man he should be marking. Stephen KABAMBA (3) is also extremely versatile and can play at left-back or

right-back and is one of their quickest defenders, which he relies on to get him out of trouble, especially when recovering.

However, he is not strong in the air and often misjudges the height of crosses into the box, especially those delivered to the far

post.

Centre-back Stoppila SUNZU (13) is one of the most talented defenders in the team and the player with the highest profile –

regarded as a hero as he was the player that scored the winning penalty to win AFCON 2012. He is dominating in the air and he

is not slow, whilst also not frightened to make a tackle. But he is not just an all-out defender, he is good on the ball and he can

also play in a defensive midfield role, but mainly as a spoiler, if anything. His positional sense is suspect however, and he can caught

out dwelling on the ball too much at times. He started his career as a midfielder and is confident on the ball but can be guilty of

over-playing at times. SUNZU is a defender with brute strength who can easily dominate most aerial duels. He can position

himself well in a deep-lying defence by blocking shots and making incisive tackles. He is also an aerial threat in the opposition box

at set-pieces (1.89 m, 6 ft 2 in). His size and explosive physicality and athleticism allows him to effectively man-mark opponents.

However, he can be over-committed in games and make silly fouls which can cause penalties or for him to be sent off. He

sometimes seems to have a lack of command of his own strength as he can be baited into unnecessary fouls or stay on his feet

when he is meant to make a more decisive tackle. Buchizya MFUNE (5) is one of the more experienced defenders and usually plays

alongside SUNZU but doesn’t possess the speed to recover against quick wingers so can be caught out in 1 v 1 situations unless there is a covering defender. He is also strong in the tackle

but is also slow when anticipating play and reacting to danger. He also tends to watch the ball and is usually the stopper in a pairing, but goes into challenges without knowing what is behind

him. Adrian CHAMA (4) is a relative newcomer to the team and has played in the centre of defence alongside SUNZU and MFUNE so they are yet to find their feet but have struck up a

good understanding so far. Boyd MKANDAWIRE is only 19, was part of the AFCON U23 squad and has found himself in the line-up in order to gain experience, he has a lot of potential

and is likely to be given game time in order to help him become more comfortable in the national team setup.

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MIDFIELDERS – Rainford KALABA (17) is the captain and is one of the most experienced, talented and important players on the team. He is usually the player that collects the ball from

his team-mates, links the play and looks to make things happen. He can play on the left to cut inside but also can

play behind the striker – the main playmaker. He is usually partnered in the middle by Nathan SINKALA (8 or

19) who is also combative, aggressive and determined. The two work very hard and are also very familiar with

each other considering they are also club-mates and this partnership provides solidity, creativity and power in

the middle of the park. Their other options in central midfield haven’t really been tested due to the strong play

of KALABA and SINKALA but this is an area of the team that they rely on heavily. Lubomba MUSONDA (18)

plays on the left but can also play right or through the middle and is a skilful and pacey winger. However, he

tends to hold on to the ball for too long and generally doesn’t release the ball when he should, preferring to

use his speed to create clearer openings. He is a goal threat, performs well for his club and while he is still

adjusting to the demands of international football, he is finding a place in the Zambia team – he was part of the

U23 squad at the last AFCON U23 tournament. Chris KATONGO (11) is a more proven and experienced

option on the right wing in particular and he relies on his know-how to get into the right positions and cause a

threat to the opposition, he is a goal threat. Jackon CHIRWA who plays on the right was another that was

part of the U23 squad and is yet to gain full exposure at international level.

FORWARDS – Winston KALENGO (10) is the main goal threat and he has a scored a goal in each of his last four competitive games for Zambia. He is one of the most deadly and

prolific strikers in Africa with an envious record of over 100 goals for his various clubs. He has good strength in the box and fast acceleration when

he is next to a defender, and in one-on-one situations with the goalkeeper, KALENGO is able to finish with composure. However, he rarely

tracks back and loves to drift to the wings at times, leaving his team with no options in the middle. He is noted for his physical strength, ability in

the air, and his ability to retain possession of the ball. His powerful and all-action approach means he can be difficult to contain and he can also

striker the ball with power and pace. He is a specialist especially from central positions, with a style which revolves around beating the goalkeeper

with speed and precision. (170 cm, 5 ft 7 in).

Collins MBESUMA (9), (1.83 m, 6 ft 0 in) is usually partnered alongside KALENGO and appears to

be bulky and not athletic. However, he shouldn’t be underestimated because he is actually very

explosive although he cannot maintain his speed over 40 yards, but he is fast over 15-20 yards. A

very powerful forward who uses his physical presence to shrug off challenges, he won’t make runs in

the channels so is likely to limit his movement up front which makes it easier for defenders to track

him. His goals records speak for itself and he is the latest Golden Boot winner in the Absa

Premiership in South Africa with 14 goals during the season.

There are not too many alternatives to KALENGO and MBESUMA as they have been regulars in the national team, again this is another area

that the team relies on heavily but the forwards continue to deliver goals so there isn’t a desire to change it. As they are relied on to score the

goals, they are not asked to do too much defensive work, so both will stay high up to occupy the centre-backs, with MBESUMA the one to drop

if needed. At the same time, because they don’t pressure on the opposition defenders, the opposition usually has enough time to build attacks and put Zambia under pressure. The two are

given license to cause havoc up top but not as first defenders.

THE END