Napsa Stars were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against Green Eagles in their Week 22 fixture at Woodlands Stadium. The highly contested match saw the home team struggle to break down the solid defense of the visiting team.
In the absence of Head Coach Sipho Mumbi, who was serving a suspension after receiving a red card in the previous game against Nkana, First Assistant Coach Lawrence M. Lubinda took charge of the team. The first half saw Green Eagles dominate possession and create several scoring opportunities, but Napsa Stars goalkeeper Charles Lawu was equal to the task, making several crucial saves to deny the visitors.
The second half saw Coach Lubinda make a series of substitutions in an attempt to change the course of the game. Mathew Tolopa replaced Emarson Kabwe in the 60th minute, while Rally Bwalya and Jimmy Mukeya came on for Daniel Adoko and Evans Kayombo Jr. respectively. Aaron Kabwe also made a late appearance, replacing Simon Nkhata in the 89th minute.
Despite the changes, Napsa Stars were unable to find the breakthrough, and the game ended in a goalless draw. Left-back Zachariah Chilongoshi was awarded the Man of the Match award for his impressive performance.
Speaking to journalists after the game, Coach Lubinda expressed his disappointment with the result.
“It was not an easy game playing a team that has lost three games. Their defense was solid,” he said. “The boys didn’t have the hunger to win today, but we will go back to planning.”
The draw leaves Napsa Stars in 11th position on the log table with 26 points. The team will now shift their focus to their upcoming away fixture against Nchanga Rangers in Chingola on February 15, 2025.
Napsa Stars will be looking to bounce back from this disappointing result and secure a crucial win against Nchanga Rangers to boost their position on the log table.