OWN CORRESPONDENT, Harare | Monday 12.15pm.
ZAMBIA became the fifth qualifiers for the 1999 All-Africa Games football finals in Johannesburg when they defeated Zimbabwe 2-1 in Harare on Sunday.
Bernard Makufi gave the visitors a 40th-minute lead, Benjamin Mwaruwaru levelled seven minutes into the second half and Dudley Fichite headed the 61st-minute winner.
Zambia qualified 5-1 on aggregate after winning the first leg of the Zone 6 third-round tie 3-0 in Lusaka two weeks ago and join South Africa, Algeria, Mauritius and Uganda at the quadrennial event.
Makufi struck after collecting a stray ball in midfield, dribbling past two defenders and slipping the ball between the legs of goalkeeper Marlon Jani before a 25000 crowd at Rufaro Stadium. Mwaruwaru brought some cheer to long-suffering home supporters by steering a rebound into the net after Emmanual Mschili had parried a shot from captain Walter Tshuma.
But the celebrations were shortlived as Fichite rose unopposed to head home a Chanda Mwape corner and a series of superb saves from Jani prevented Zambia winning more decisively.
The All-Africa Games finals will be staged from September 10-19 at three venues with two mini-leagues followed by classification matches, semi-finals and the final. — AFP
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