Burundi and Zambia will meet twice next month in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, with both sides looking to improve their Group I standing after contrasting starts.
Zambia host the first leg on Nov. 11, and Burundi stage the return fixture on Nov. 15.
Burundi arrive in better form after recovering from a 1-0 opening defeat away to Togo with a 2-2 draw against Algeria in Bujumbura.
They made a flying start against the Algerians. Farès Chaïbi turned the ball into his own net in the fifth minute, and Jean Girumugisha doubled the lead seven minutes later. Mohamed El Amine Belloumi pulled one back in the 30th minute, and Adil Boulbina equalized in the 63rd. Algeria dominated possession and created the better chances, but Burundi held on for a point.
Zambia, meanwhile, bounced back from a 3-1 loss to Algeria by beating Togo 2-0 on Sept. 29. Albert Kangwanda scored after two minutes, and Eliya Mandanji added a second in stoppage time for Zambia’s first win of the campaign.
Algeria lead the group with four points. Zambia and Togo have three each, and Burundi have one.
A closely contested history
Zambia hold a slight edge in the head-to-head record. In five meetings, Zambia have won twice, Burundi once, and two matches have been drawn.
Zambia won both of their 2013 friendlies, by 1-0 in December and 4-3 in the other. Earlier results include a 0-0 draw in 2010 and a 1-1 draw in 2009. Burundi’s only win came in a 3-2 victory in 2006.
For Burundi, the task is to turn the confidence from the Algeria draw into points. For Zambia, it is to build on the Togo win and keep pressure on Algeria. With only two points separating the sides, the two November matches could reshape the Group I race.
