Group D action resumes today when Zimbabwe face Mali while Uganda lock horns with Zambia in the late kick off, both games at Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu on day 8 of the 2016 African Nations Championship.
Today
Group DZimbabwe vs Mali - 3pm, SS9/RTVUganda vs Zambia - 6pm, SS9/RTV
Group D action resumes today when Zimbabwe face Mali while Uganda lock horns with Zambia in the late kick off, both games at Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu on day 8 of the 2016 African Nations Championship.
It’s a do-or-die situation for Zimbabwe, should they lose to Mali in the 3 o’clock kick-off, and they will be all but out of the continental competition, having lost 1-0 in the opening game against Zambia on Tuesday.
Making their third CHAN appearance, the 2011 quarter-finalists, Mali who were held by Uganda on a 2-all draw, will be seeking for a win to boost chances for reaching the last eight.
The last time Mali and Zimbawe met, on January 25, 2015 in a FIFA international match, the game ended 2-1 in favor of Zimbabwe. In their last five meeting since 2002, Zimbabwe have three wins, Mali one win and they have drawn once.
In another encounter, , Uganda will be up against Zambia in a game that means a lot for both sides but especially to the Cranes, who would be edging closer to preliminary stages dismissal for a third consecutive time, if they lose today.
Chipolopolo and the Cranes have a huge and balanced head-to-head record dating from 1964. The last time that the two countries played was in a friendly game on March 5, 2014 which the later lost 2-1.
In their last 34 meetings, Zambia have won 15 times compared to Uganda’s 13 while both teams have drawn 6 times. However, both sides have never met in CHAN before, a fact that spices up today’s clash.
Should George Lwandamina’s Zambia win, they book their place in the quarter-finals, joining Rwanda and DR Congo, who qualified on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.
editorial@newtimes.co.rw