Chipolopolo’s COSAFA Cup title defence is very bleak after losing their second successive Group A match at the ongoing tournament South Africa is hosting at Nelson Mandela Bay.
The five-time champions lost 1-0 to Eswatini to stay bottom of Group A and the only team on zero points after two games and another two left to play.
Saturday’s defeat comes two days after Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic’s boys squandered a one-nil halftime lead to lose 2-1 to Lesotho in their opening game on July 8.
Striker’s Brian Mwila’s 40th minute miss of the year from point-blank range in front of an inviting goal epitomized disjointed Chipolopolo’s form on the day.
The deadlock was broken in the 53rd minute when Eswatini defender Sandile Gamedze out-jumped a bunch of static Zambian defenders to head-in midfielder Sabelo Gamedze’s corner.
From then on, Eswatini were in control, albeit in defensive mode, and they didn’t panic for the remainder of the match, comfortably soaking up the tame pressure exhibited by Zambia.
Zambia, though, did score in the 88th minute when Gamphani Lungu headed-in an Augustine Mulenga delivery into the box.
However, the goal was ruled out for offside.
Zambia are last while Lesotho and Botswana have 3 points each.
Eswatini lead Group A tied on 6 points with second placed South Africa.
Chipolopolo face Botswana on July 13 and South Africa on July 14 as they prepare for what is looking like a trophy handover ceremony in their remaining two Group A matches.
Ifintu ni Kamanga.
This man has taken football back to the dark ages.
Just like the government in power.
Zambia is good in corruption not soccer.
If government can fail to relocate the owner of 48 house while tenants are paying rentals and bills
Can chipolopolo rubber bullet kill or score?.
Bunch of jokes
If you cant go to AFCON no use defending amaCOSAFA. Bushe Kamanga afumine kwi?
The underlying political, social and economic base at any given time, does usually affect the offshoots – be it sport or otherwise. In short, these football performances are just a reflection of the other holistic things that are going wrong with the country.
If our team is worth its name we can win the last two games against Botswana & South Africa but with huge margins and proceed with 6 points on goal difference. I also believe that we have the team to score such goals but does the coach know that or which players or how to bring the best out of them. I think at this stage even firing him today will bring the best out of the team. He failed to bring the best out of Shonga and Augustine at Pirates