Cape Verde vs Zambia Match Preview

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS
Venue: Estadio de Ebebiyin Date: Monday, 26/1/15 Kick-off: 18:00 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website

MATCH PREVIEW

Zambia will give a late fitness test to Southampton striker Emmanuel Mayuka, who is suffering from a groin injury picked up in the match against Tunisia.

Chipolopolo must win to keep alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals in Equatorial Guinea.

"Cape Verde are a strong side and it will be a difficult fixture," said coach Honour Janza.

Cape Verde coach Rui Aguas has stated that a last-eight place is the "minimum objective for his side.

His team might need only a draw to progress, depending on the result of the other match in the group.

Going into the final games, Tunisia have four points, Cape Verde and DR Congo two each and Zambia one.

MATCH FACTS

Cape Verde have drawn four of their previous six AFCON matches (W1 L1), including both of their games in the 2015 edition.

The Blue Sharks have never scored or conceded more than two goals in a single Africa Cup of Nations game; indeed their six previous games have seen just nine goals in total.

Zambia are now without a win in six games in this competition; though their recent defeat to Tunisia ended a run of five consecutive draws.

The two meetings between the sides in qualifying for this tournament were the first official meetings between the sides; both ended in home wins.

Zambia have only scored with two of their 22 shots in this competition so far, while Cape Verde have only managed one goal from 18 attempts.

Cape Verde will become the 25th different side that Zambia have faced in this tournament; the Bullets have won their last four Afcon games against sides they had never played before (South Africa 2006, Sudan 2008, Gabon 2010, Equatorial Guinea 2012).

Article Source: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30875465