Napsa Stars claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mufulira Wanderers at home, thanks to an early strike from Jimmy Mukeya. The goal, scored in the 8th minute, was assisted by Evans Kayombo Jr and set the tone for a tightly contested match.
The visitors pushed hard to find an equalizer, but Napsa Stars’ defense held firm. As the match progressed, Mufulira Wanderers began to gain momentum, forcing the Napsa Stars technical bench to make tactical changes.
In the 58th minute, Defensive Midfielder Keagan Zulu replaced Striker Evans Kayombo Jr, while Midfielder Jackson Ngoma made way for attacking Midfielder Mathew Tolopa. These substitutions helped to shore up the Napsa Stars defense and maintain their slender lead.
Despite Mufulira Wanderers’ best efforts, Napsa Stars managed to defend their lead and secure all three points. Referee Chola Chansa blew the final whistle, confirming Napsa Stars’ victory.
Head Coach Sipho Mumbi expressed his delight with the win, stating that it has motivated the team to work even harder for their upcoming matches.
Mumbi praised his team’s performance in the first half, but acknowledged that Mufulira Wanderers came on strong in the second half. “We planned to capitalize and be on possession the first 20 minutes, which worked and we scored,” he explained.
The win moves Napsa Stars up to 11th position in the Zambian Premier League Table with 30 points. As they look ahead to their next match against Red Arrows, Coach Mumbi is confident that his team will continue to build on this momentum.
With this victory, Napsa Stars will be looking to carry their winning form into their upcoming fixtures, starting with the match against Red Arrows next week Saturday on 22nd February, 2025.