•ZAMBIA Under-23 players led by skipper Toaster Nsabata (centre) and Patson Daka (jersey 18 back to camera) celebrate qualification to the Senegal 2015 Africa Under-23 Championship at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka yesterday. Picture by GWEN CHIPASULA

By ELIAS CHIPEPO and GWEN CHIPASULA At Nkoloma Stadium –
Zambia 0 Ivory Coast 0 (wins 4-3 on penalties)
GOALKEEPER Toaster Nsabata and striker Paston Daka were hero’s as they helped Zambia beat a determined Ivory Coast and qualify to the Senegal 2015 African Under-23 Championship after intense penalty lotteries.
This exciting final leg return match played before a capacity crowd, saw both sides fail to break the deadlock after 180 minutes of play with the winner having to be decided on penalties.
Jack Chirwa, Benedict Chepeshi, Solomon Sakala and Daka converted their efforts while Ronald ‘Sate Sate’ Kampamba, Benson Sakala agonisingly saw their kicks saved by Ivory Coast goalkeeper Bamba Drissa.
But the trio had Daka and Nsabata to thank for scoring and saving the last penalty respectively to ensure Zambia makes an appearance at the continental showpiece where the side will go to compete for places at Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Assale Roger Claver, Becha Ehris Bile and Aholon Eudes scored for the Ivoirians while Kessie France, Diarra Abdel, Coulibaly Souleymane and Ciguessan Serge missed their efforts.
However, much as fans led by Sports Minister Vincent Mwale toasted Zambia’s qualification, failure to score in regulation time was the worry for most fans that watched the side miss chances in an evenly poised encounter.
But despite failure to score and marshal the midfield, coach Fighton Simukonda was not bothered by that as he accomplished his mission.
“A win is a win whether through penalties or not. We just need to prepare adequately for the tournament by playing enough friendly games as we have enough time before the competition starts,” said an elated Simukonda.
Simukonda said in a post match interview that he had a capable squad to qualify for the Olympic Games in Brazil, while Ivory Coast coach refused to give journalists an interview.
The match was briefly halted as fans become agitated in the 81st minute after first assistant referee Oamogetse Godisamang of Botswana flagged for a goal kick instead of a Zambian corner after the ball came off an Ivoirian defender.
Irate fans threw different kind of missiles they could lay their hands onto the pitch before security personnel was called in to restore order as FAZ spokesperson Nkweto Tembwe made pleas to the fans to exercise patience.
The match started on a fast note with both sides searching for the early goal but striker Friday Samu was a culprit as he missed Zambia’s only good chance in the 39th minute.
Samu pounced on a loose ball after defender France made a poor back pass to his keeper but the Zambian failed to chip the ball over an advancing Drissa opting to shot directing at the intimidating figure with fans up on their feet in readiness to celebrate what seemed to be a goal.
Earlier on, Samu’s weak header was easily dealt with by Drissa in the 28th minute before he again saved a weak attempt from Kampamba.
Simukonda made a change removing Mumbi Mweene and brought in Solomon Sakala, while injury forced hard working Kelvin Mubanga out and was replaced by Charles Zulu.
Ivory Coast threatened in the fifth minute but the attempt from Souleymane was easily caught by Nsabata before his thunderbolt just went wide at goal in the 43rd minute.
Souleymame proved to be a thorn in the Zambian defence as he in came close to giving his side the lead but could only hit the side netting after dribbling past defenders and Nsabata but failed to find the knack to expertly curve in the ball into an empty yawing net.
Shadreck Malambo came alive late into the match but his effort in the 85 minute just missed the goal before he unleashed a low pass at the keeper.