Zambia vs Uganda

This past year, Zambia soared to new heights by winning the 2012 African Cup of Nations. Now, the defense of the championship begins for Zambia, but Uganda is looking to end a long drought as well.

Having not reached AFCON since 1978, Uganda began qualifying for AFCON 2010 with a two-game ultimatum issued to its manager Bobby Williamson: perform well or be fired. While Uganda lost to Benin 3-1, the country rebounded to win the next qualifier 2-1 to Benin. Still, Uganda missed AFCON 2010, but the performances were good enough for Williamson to keep his job as manager. His guidance would help several players emerge on the national team, as well as orchestrating an upset against Angola in an AFCON 2012 qualifier to help Uganda reach its highest ever ranking.

Geoffrey Massa is the active leader in goals scored, as he was one of five players to score for Uganda in AFCON 2012 qualifiers. After three wins and a draw, Uganda was on the cusp of reaching AFCON 2012. But after a loss in Angola, Uganda played to a disappointing scoreless draw against Kenya.  The draw, coupled with Angola’s 2-0 victory in Guinea-Bissau, eliminated Uganda from contention. However, Williamson still remains the manager

Despite losing 3-1 in Congo, Uganda made a statement and thrashed Congo in Kampala 4-0. Massa was one of four players to score in the second leg against Congo.

Zambia’s victory in AFCON 2012 was poignant: the final was played in the same city where in 1993, a fatal plane claimed all 30 people on board. Yet, despite that tragedy, months following the tragedy, Zambia reached its first AFCON final, losing to Nigeria 2-1.

Zambia reached AFCON 2012 thanks in large part to Christopher Katongo and Emmanuel Mayuka. Both players each scored three goals in qualifying for AFCON 2012, and both players would repeat that feat as well. Each player scored in critical moments on the road to the 2012 AFCON final. Katongo scored in the group stage against Equatorial Guinea to win Group A, while Mayuka scored against Ghana in the semifinals to send Zambia to only its second final in the country’s history.

Zambia also won AFCON 2012 on the strength of its goalkeeper. A member of South Africa’s Free States Stars, Kennedy Mweene was voted the goalkeeper of AFCON 2012, largely for his part in the final against the Ivory Coast. 

Mweene not only convert his shot, but also stopped Kolo Toure in the penalty shootout, allowing Stoppila Sunzu to score the winning goal in the shootout.

Following AFCON 2012, Zambia began qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup against two teams the country defeat to reach the final: Sudan and Ghana. Zambia was able to repeat the same 1-0 score line against Ghana, but days earlier lost 2-0 in Sudan. Zambia has also lost two friendlies against Malawi and South Korea, as well as a scoreless draw against Angola.  Uganda, on the other hand, notched two dramatic 1-1 draws in qualifying in Angola and at home against Senegal. A month after the qualifiers, Uganda played in an historic friendly: on July 10, in the first ever match for South Sudan, Uganda managed a 2-2 draw in Juba.  

Will Zambia be able to defend the AFCON title it deserved? Will Uganda be able to end a lengthy drought of not reaching an AFCON tournament? The answer will come this October.