Goals from Lubambo Musonda and Winston Kalengo guided Zambia to a 2-0 (3-0 on aggregate) win over Sudan at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Sunday.
The duo found the back of the net in the second half as George Lwandamina’s men successfully booked their place in the third round of 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifying, alongside Gabon and Uganda.
The second round of qualifiers will be concluded by Tuesday evening with the 20 successful teams to battle for five African spots at the World Cup in Russia.
Hero from the first-leg in Karima, Kalengo saw his header attempt in the 16th minute fly just over as Chipolopolo went in search of an early goal.
Sudan knew that a goal would turn the tide in their favour and the Falcons of Jediane went close to silencing the home crowd through Atahir Eltahir in the 24th minute – the right-back seeing his powerful shot blaze just over Kennedy Mweene’s crossbar.
Spurred on by a close shave at the other end, the exciting Musonda cut in-field before firing a left-footed shot straight at Akram El Hadi on the half-hour mark.
The Sudanese keeper, who was at fault for the goal in Sudan earlier this week, went some way in redeeming himself two minutes later, this time to deny Kalengo who latched onto a long ball over the visitors’ defensive line.
Zambia continued to press for the opener, but Sudan, like the hosts were benefiting from favourable playing conditions – a contrast to the conditions in the reverse fixture – as the two teams headed into the tunnel deadlocked at 0-0.
The hosts frustrations continued to mount following the break with the Southern Africans struggling to find the end product to all their attacking movement.
Chipolopolo finally found the opener through Musonda in the 59th minute of the game. Kalengo’s initial effort was superbly directed onto the crossbar by El Hadi, but the stopper could do nothing as the Armenia-based attacker Musonda, pounced to tap in from close range.
Kalengo put the result beyond doubt in the 81st minute with his second goal in as many games. The Zesco United forward dispossessed Mohamed Ali Alkhdir before bursting into the area and curling his shot into the back of the net.
