• ZAMBIA midfielder, Nathan Sinkala (right) in a tussle with Thamsanqa Sangweni of South Africa during a friendly match at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday. South Africa won 1-0.- Picture by SYDNEY MAHLANGU/BACKPAGEPIX

By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –
COACH Honour Janza says he has drawn positives from the 1-0 defeat suffered to South Africa and remained adamant that the Chipolopolo will reach the finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
Zambia succumbed to a late Thuso Phala 81st minute goal at the Orlando Stadium in an international friendly match the two sides were using as part of preparations for 2015 AFCON tournament that starts on January 17 in Equatorial Guinea.
Janza told kickoff.com that the friendly match had given him an opportunity to gauge which players were ready for the AFCON finals.
“It won’t be any surprise if the Chipolopolo go far in the AFCON tournament. We have the ability to go far and no-one should congratulate me if we go into the finals because that’s where we belong, and if we don’t go far that will be unfortunate,” Janza said.
The 2012 AFCON champions will start their Group B campaign with a date against the Leopards of Congo DR on January 18 before facing Tunisia and Cape Verde respectively.
“You see what is important is not where the team is standing but where it is going, fans should be comfortable that we will perform well and represent the country very well,” Janza added.
Janza said the Chipolopolo technical bench had achieved its objectives of shaping up the team ahead of the AFCON finals and commended South Africa for putting up a spirited fight against his team.
“We achieved what we wanted. This friendly was for the technical bench and players to see who was ready and which areas we can improve on. This has been achieved.
“I expected Bafana Bafana to attack with speed and we made one or two mistakes that allowed them to get that goal. We missed one or two chances and it’s important to utilise the chances but it was a good game,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chipolopolo striker Evans Kangwa joined the Zambian camp in South Africa yesterday ahead of Janza’s announcement of his final 23 players for the 2015 AFCON finals today.
Defender Emmanuel Mbola arrived on Sunday evening while the arrival of Kangwa completes the squad of 27 players that the coach summoned.
Speaking to Fazfootball.com on arrival at O.R Tambo International Airport, Kangwa said he was happy to join the rest of the squad.
“In 2012 I did not see much action but this time I am very hopeful to make an impact and help Zambia go all the way in the finals,” Kangwa said.
Goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene, who suffered a recurring groin injury, will be assessed by the medical team tomorrow.