Lesotho is Zambia's redemption game - Mbesuma

Lusaka --- Lesotho will be a good chance to redeem ourselves after falling to retain our AFCON title says Collins Mbesuma.

According to the local media , here, Zambia return to action this weekend for the first time since their AFCON title defence flop when they visit Lesotho in a Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

"We have to go all out because we were very disappointed at the AFCON," Mbesuma said.

The 2012 Africa football Champions failed to win any if its games at the Africa Cup in South Africa bowing out of Group C with three draws.

"I think we need to prove this time that we are a better side that we did not win AFCON by luck now we need to work hard," Mbesuma said.

Mbesuma scored one of Zambia's two goals at the tournament with the other coming from goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene via a penalty.

Meanwhile, Zambia lead Group D on six points and Ghana are second on three points.

Sudan are third on one point after being docked three points for playing an ineligible player in a 2-0 win over Zambia on June 2 in Khartoum.

Lesotho is bottom of Group D on one point heading into their third round pool matches in the CAF zone qualifiers.

Zambia was in 2012 in a state of ecstasy. The Chipolopolo were the gallant winners of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, which took place in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea – coincidentally, the venue that last witnessed their heroes before the tragic death of 18 players in a plane crash 19 years ago on April 27, 1993.

The victory was historic. It is the first time that the southern Africans will return home with the ultimate prize after 15 appearances in the continental flagship competition.

The 2010 quarter-finalists lifted the trophy at a time when nobody expected them to win. It was a well deserved victory which came about not by fortune, but via camaraderie and determination on the part of a well-motivated group.

The Zambians began writing their now historic script in the 2012 tournament with a 2-1 group win over a highly-rated Senegal side.

Having progressed through the group stages and defeated Sudan in the quarter-final, the 1994 runners-up kept their composure and went on to shoot down another favorite in the form of the Black Stars of Ghana at the semi-final stage.

Right until the end of the epic and tense 8-7 penalty shoot-out in the final against pre-tournament favorites, the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, few believed that the Copper Bullets were destined to lift the trophy for the first time.

Coach Herve Renard, who has since been accorded a full resident status by the Zambian government, knew his charges had to be calm and collected in order to beat an Ivorian side starring English Premier League and European-based stars.

Zambia's inspirational captain Christopher Katongo, along with Emmanuel Mayuka, Isaac Chansa and Nathan Sinkala were outstanding, and constant menaces to the Ivorian defence.

The quartet strung their passes together neatly, forcing the 1992 African champions to adopt a different attitude towards the game, and keeping them under pressure from the word go. They posed a threat from their well-worked set-pieces, and for much of the final, the Chipolopolo seemed the hungrier of the two sides.

It was certainly Cote d'Ivoire’s tournament to lose. Chelsea talisman Didier Drogba missed from the spot in normal time and that could have sealed victory for them. The introduction of Zambia’s Felix Katongo and the Coast's Max Gradel into the game brought some spark and urgency to both sides, but defences stood tall.

The Ivorians became more attack-minded by switching Arsenal play-maker Gervinho to the right flank, but an impressive Zambian goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene was on top form, with his anticipation and positioning equal to each Ivorian attack.

The current generation of Zambia players felt the only way to placate the departed souls of Efford Chabala - Richard Mwanza, John Soko, Whiteson Changwe, Robert Watiyakeni, Eston Mulenga, Derby Makinka, Moses Chikwalakwala, Wisdom Chansa, Kelvin Mutale, Timothy Mwitwa, Numba Mwila, Samuel Chomba, Moses Masuwa, Kanan Simambe, Godfrey Kangwa, Winter Mumba and Patrick Banda - was to win the Afcon trophy at the location where they were last seen before their tragic death in the Atlantic Ocean en route to Senegal for a World Cup qualifier.