Zambia put three past Sudan

ZAMBIA scored a comfortable 3-0 win over a spirited Sudan in a Group C battle of the outsiders in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations at the Baba Yara Stadium on Tuesday.

The Chipolopolo, as the Zambian team are known, took an early lead through James Chamanga after just two minutes and added a second five minutes after the interval through Jacob Mulenga. Felix Katongo further punished poor defending by Sudan when he tapped home the third goal in the 59th minute after goalkeeper Abdalla Elmuez failed to hold on to a shot by Rainford Kalaba.Zambia sit atop Group C after the 4-2 win posted by Egypt over four-time champions Cameroon earlier in the day.After going in front, the south Africans, who were without their leading scorer Christopher Katongo through suspension, pressed on as in-form Chamanga combined well with Felix Katongo in the ninth minute only for Katongo’s shot from on top of the box to scream across the face of goal.Badr Eldin’s scorching effort from 30 yards nearly got Sudan an equaliser after 12 minutes but it came off the woodwork with goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene well beaten.The quick inter-change of passes and movement by the fleet-footed Zambian forwards spearheaded by the exciting Mulenga often got the Sudan back four into trouble but big defender Ritshard Jastein proved a steadying influence for this team back in Nations Cup after a 32-year absence.Nampa-ReutersFelix Katongo further punished poor defending by Sudan when he tapped home the third goal in the 59th minute after goalkeeper Abdalla Elmuez failed to hold on to a shot by Rainford Kalaba.Zambia sit atop Group C after the 4-2 win posted by Egypt over four-time champions Cameroon earlier in the day.After going in front, the south Africans, who were without their leading scorer Christopher Katongo through suspension, pressed on as in-form Chamanga combined well with Felix Katongo in the ninth minute only for Katongo’s shot from on top of the box to scream across the face of goal.Badr Eldin’s scorching effort from 30 yards nearly got Sudan an equaliser after 12 minutes but it came off the woodwork with goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene well beaten.The quick inter-change of passes and movement by the fleet-footed Zambian forwards spearheaded by the exciting Mulenga often got the Sudan back four into trouble but big defender Ritshard Jastein proved a steadying influence for this team back in Nations Cup after a 32-year absence.Nampa-Reuters