Zambia coach Avram Grant has saluted two-goal hero Patson Daka for leading Chipolopolo to victory against Lesotho on Sunday.
The Leicester City striker struck in both halves on March 26 to lead Zambia to a 2-0 away win over Lesotho at Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg.
“Daka did a very good job in the first game. He moved a lot and today (Sunday), he knew what to do being one of the top finishers but he also got a good assist. The team combination was good,” Grant said.
Patson scored two close-range goals in the 14th and 69th minutes, both benefitting from Fashion Sakala assists.
The England-based striker was replaced by Kennedy Musonda in the 90th minute.
Meanwhile, Zambia is top for at least 24 hours before Cote d’Ivoire away game against Comoros on Tuesday.
Zambia has 9 points, Cote d’Ivoire has 7 points while Comoros and Lesotho have 3 and 1 point respectively.
Chipolopolo just needs a draw in their penultimate Group H match at home against Cote d’Ivoire during the week of June 123 to qualify for the AFCON for the first time since 2015.
Since then, Zambia has missed an unprecedented three consecutive AFCONs.
WEEKEND SCORECARD
023 AFCON GROUP H QUALIFIERS
23/03/2023
Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola
Zambia 3(Fashion Sakala 37′, Lameck Banda 53′
56′)-Lesotho 1 Tsoarelo Bereng 33′)
26/03/2023
Dobsonville Stadium, Johannesburg
Lesotho 0- Zambia 2(Patson Daka 13′ 69′)
2023 U23 AFCON FINAL ROUND QUALIFIERS
FIRST LEG
22/03/2023
20 June Stadium, Cairo
Egypt 2 (Adel Ibrahim 72′, Abdel Rahman Atef 87′)- Zambia 0
FINAL LEG
26/03/2023
Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola
Zambia 0- Egypt 0*
*Egypt qualify 2-0 on agg
COPPERBELT CUP
QUARTERFINALS
18/03/2023
-Nkana Stadium, Kitwe
Chingola Leopards 5-Collins Mbesuma Academy 0
Young Nkana 1-Zambezi Portland 1*
*Zambezi Portland win 5-4 pp
19/03/2023
-Independence Stadium, Kalulushi
Antelope Milling 1-Nkumbu 1
*Nkumbu win 5-4 pp
Kalulushi Modern Stars 1-Roan United 2
=SEMIFINALS
Chingola Leopards- Roan United
Zambezi Portland-Nkumbu
