For the first time in COSAFA Cup history, Zambia will not be playing in the knockout round of the regional competition they have won five times after failing to qualify to the semifinals at the tournament South Africa is hosting at Nelson Mandela Bay.
The outgoing champions have played in the last eight or last four stage of each COSAFA Cup tournament since the inaugural event in 1997.
COSAFA’s second most successful nation, who are one win behind Zimbabwe, made a milestone exit on Wednesday when they drew 0-0 with 2021 tournament hosts Bafana Bafana South Africa at the famed Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Chipolopolo came into the match in stuttering form after suffering successive Group A defeats to Lesotho 2-1 on July 8 and Eswatini 1-0 on July 10.
They redeemed themselves with a 2-1 victory over Botswana on July 13 at Wolfson Stadium where coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic blamed the allegedly bad pitch and barmy weather for his sides’ poor showing and promised a commanding display at the iconic 2010 FIFA World Cup venue against the hosts.
But Chipolopolo huffed and puffed on hallowed ground against a Bafana team that was blessed with second division players and led by second assistant coach Morena Ramoreboli .
Ramoreboli is standing in for first assistant coach Helman Mkhalele who missed the tournament after testing positive for Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Chipolopolo only had two tangible chances to score, starting with Salulani Phiri’s 44th minute effort that went wide.
Then second half substitute Gampani Lungu saw his cheeky side-footed volley in stoppage time blocked by Njabulo Ngcobo.
Chipolopolo exit the COSAFA Cup second from bottom in Group A on 4 points, three points less than second placed Eswatini and six points adrift of unbeaten Bafana.
Eswatini and South Africa are through to the semifinals.
Coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic on the other hand now returns to Lusaka to face the music.
Mico has no players. The generation of players is bad.
The players are hopeless even coached by Pep or Jose the results will be the same. They cannot trap the ball at national level. they cannot shoot on target. After the exit some are smiling, you want to tell us it is the coach? The club coaches are responsible as well. FAZ is responsible as well. National team coach is responsible for the strategy and execution. But the skills required should be part of the players when they are called up. Club Coaches should be improving all the time
Strikers cant strike, possession lost easily, players too casual, relaxed and chilled
Coach not tactical
I think in the future Kelvin Kampamba and Sautu should start. They were a marvel to watch
How many goals did Lazarus scored at Chiefs?
This generation of Zambian players is pathetic…. no quality players Zambia
A BAD CARPENTER ALWAYS BLAME HIS TOOLS..
I am glad most fans saw what I had observed.The players were pathetic, I have never seen a chipolopolo side so useless that i just could’t watch.It was pathetic. Strikers missing chances to score with an open goal mouth!
Look at Senegal and Namibia.These teams played with hunger and anticipation. What an embrasment to fail to beat the South African team full of division One players,
This is the team that went ot West Africa recently for friendly matches and this is what they went for?
Am sure ZESCO or ZANACO would have done better that these tourists we sent to South Africa.
No these players are okay. The Coach and FAZ I seriously doubt. This has been the worst FAZ we have ever had setting negative records all the time