Coach George Lwandamina admits that reaching the quarter-finals of the 2016 African Nations championship (CHAN) in advance negatively affected Zambia’s performance in their final Group D match against Mali that finished score-less in Kigali on Wednesday.
Group D winners Zambia advanced to the last eight of the CHAN with a game to spare after beating Uganda 1-0 and Zimbabwe with an identical score-line in their first two games.
Against Mali at Nyamirambo Stadium, Zambia literally struggled as the West Africans halted their perfect start to the CHAN.
“The players got affected psychologically coming into the game already qualified so it was the most difficulty game,” Lwandamina told a post-match media conference.
Zambia will now face Guinea in the fourth quarter-final tie on Sunday in Rubavu.
Zambia won Group D with seven points, two above runners up Mali.
Zambia cannot and have never beaten Mali. Also Zambia never wins two consecutive matches. Also they are very good at goaless draws. Don’t panic, its my opinion.
What is your point? Zambia is standing on fresh feet. The 7 points is better than in other groups qualifying with 5points. Learn to appreciate
You are very ignorant and you do not have any clue how good are the Zambian stats against Mali .Leave your cheap talk in the tarven .
Zambia did once beat Mali. 4-0, if I am not mistake at an Afcon tournament
you enjoy misleading and being misled. which history books do you have, from 2014. zambia has never beaten mali?
Zambia beat Mali at the 1994 AFCON
If you don’t know Zambian Soccer, you better keep quiet you fools!! Zambia beat Mali 4-0 in 1994 Tunisia AFCON and again Zambia beat Mali 2-1 in 2005 in a German 2006 qualifier match in Chililabombwe and Linos Chalwe opened the scores, mean while in the reverse fixture Zambia drew 1-1 with Mali in Bamako Kanoute scored for Mali and Milanzi for Zambia. It is Mali that has never beaten Zambia at senior level, only at junior level has Zambia ever lost to Mali..
Zambia beat Mali 4-0 in the semi-finals of the 1994 AFCON!
The team has got no topman!!that boy Patson Daka whom Lwandamina took to Rwanda is not a topman!!this is a guy who has played so many games in Chipolopolo jersey minus scoring a goal,so how can he score there?our coaches cannot even see that we are lacking a striker.Conlyde Luchanga can even do better than that Patson Daka!!
Really laughable and you have not met the big boys yet…you will surprised how your colleagues have developed whilst we have stagnated!!
this jay jay fellow has issues ,which ever result zambia gets its laughable we are the group winners and thats an achievement on its on stop being petty
yes Ala afcon 1994, they had a powerful team
in the likes of Fernard Coulibally, Soulimane Sane. In that tournament they were referred to as the giant killers. it was indeed a 4-0 bashing
What will you be saying when we go past Guinea? As long as we did not concede or lose the game against Mali the game plan is still on course.
Guys, I have watched all three matches that Zambia played. The boys have individual talents but there is zero proper organization. They cant keep ball possession for even 1 minute. The game against Mali was the worst! Mali players are very tall and yet our Zambian players kept on with their long balls!! I have concluded that there is no good local coach in Zed.
FAZ, can you please stop these jokes and cheap politics and get a proper International Coach. Even the teams we beat played a much better tactical game. We were just kicking the ball in every direction as if that was not our national team. Had it not been for Chris Katongo and Chansa, we wouldnt have even scored a single goal. The players have individual skills but we dont have a coach to properly coordinate those skills.
In all the tree matches Zambia has been flat. The first game Zimbabwe was a far better side creating chances only that they were poor in front of the goal. It has been very embarrassing watching our national team playing a chipantepante type of football. Against Mali the entire 90 minutes sure no shot at goal? I am one person who believes local coaches can do a good job but what I have seen from this tournament so far is giving me second thoughts.
Elo nga twawina cup mwikasefyako imwebene mwebalelalndalanda pali local coach. Who know by luck limbi kuti twawina cup elo tukasefye…The point am trying to make is that right now the coach we have is Lwandamina and is very much local. What we need to do is to give him full support so that he can concentrate very well to the task at hand. Where are you going to get a white man within these few days and expect him to come and win us the Chan. Lets rally behind what we have and we will talk later about the international coach..
Mali have never beaten Zambia. The best result Mali can get is a draw. “Chicken” George Lwandamina is one of the best Coaches at this Tournament; What are you talking about. Shut your mouth if you don’t have footbal history in your head
Mali have never beaten Zambia. The best result Mali can get is a draw. “Chicken” George Lwandamina is one of the best Coaches at this Tournament; What are you talking about. Shut your mouth if you don’t have footbal history in your head.
1994 Zambia v Mali W 4-0 Africa Cup of Nations
10 Jan 2002 Mali v Zambia D 1-1 International friendly
19 Jun 2004 Mali v Zambia D 1-1 FIFA World Cup
18 Jun 2005 Zambia v Mali W 2-1 FIFA World Cup