The Zambian senior national team, the Chipolopolo, on Wednesday engaged two Ghanaian Premier League Clubs, Kessben FC and King Faisal Babies, in international friendly matches at the Anane Boateng Stadium at Abrankese in the Ashanti Region. The first friendly match saw the Chipolopolo losing 0-1 to Kessben courtesy a 22nd minute strike by James Boadu. It was a beautiful goal by all standards as he connected home a Dan Addo’s in-swinger after the latter had dummied two defenders in a counter attack. In the other friendly, the Zambians drew goalless against King Faisal in a match that the Chipolopolo dominated in all departments of the game. Rainford Kalaba and Emmanuel Mayuka should have scored for the Zambians in the 22nd and 24th minutes respectively but messed up the glorious chances that came their way. The two matches formed part of preparations being undertaken by the Chipolopolo ahead of the Ghana 2008 football fiesta which kicks off on January 20, this year. Zambia are paired alongside Cameroon, Egypt and Sudan in Group C, based at the Baba Yara Sports stadium - Kumasi, a group which many football connoisseurs tip Cameroon and Egypt to sail through to the next stage of the competition against the backdrop of their rich experience and history at the African Cup of Nations tournament. Solly Pandor, team manager of the Chipolopolo in an interview with the GNA Sports after matches, commended the Ghanaian teams for their high standard of play and said the friendlies would help the technical team to assess the weaknesses and strength of the Zambian team ahead of their group matches which kicks off on January 22. Source: GNA