Kalaba bent on clipping Eagles' wings

Captain of Zambia’s national team, Rainford Kalaba insists Chipolopolo are not scared of Nigeria’s Super Eagles ahead of Sunday’s 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifier in Ndola.

The two sides will meet at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in the opening game in Group B, keen to make a positive start to their respective Word Cup qualifying campaigns.

Kalaba says no one in the Zambia squad is scared at the prospect of facing the star-spangled Super Eagles on Sunday.

“Nigeria is a big side in African football. We respect them but we do not fear them.

“In the end, football is played on the pitch and we intend to beat them on ours,” Kalaba told the Zambia Daily Mail.

Meanwhile Chipolopolo head coach, Wedson Nyirenda says the team’s ultimate aim is to qualify to the World Cup for the first time in Zambia’s history.

Speaking after the team’s training session on Wednesday evening, Nyirenda said the arrival of overseas-based professionals had boosted morale in the team.

“We just have to qualify. I have always said even if we are building the team, we have to qualify to the World Cup for the first time.

“The arrival of professionals has boosted morale in the team, we are looking good with the brotherliness I am seeing in the team.

“We are going to maintain Rainford Kalaba as captain,” Nyirenda said.