10-men Red Arrows came close to causing drama on a rain drenched Saturday afternoon at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka when they beat Egyptian side ENNPI 3-0 only to bow of the Confederations Cup 4-3 on aggregate.
It was a carnival filled atmosphere at Nkoloma as Arrows attempted the almost-impossible to try and overhaul 4-0 deficit with temperamental Zambia coach Herve Renard hired to try and help steer the hosts to that Herculean feat.
“We are proud to beat an Egyptian team and I respect Egyptian football and with the win we are proud of Zambian football,” Renard said.
“Red Arrows showed that they did not finish second on the table for nothing last season with the way they played today.”
Arrows started off on a shaky note as ENPPI dominated with their early swift pace but the hosts held out led by an inspired goalkeeper Daniel Munyao.
Arrows took the lead against the run of play through Timothy Mbewe who scored the first of his three goals on the day when he whipped in a free kick in the 39th minute from outside the box.
Mbewe added another goal a minute after the hour-mark just after Under-17 starlet Jimmy Chisenga was red carded for dissent by Alfred Ndinya of Kenya.
The second goal came after Mbewe stole the ball from Mozambique international defender Mano from halfway inside ENPPI’s area to round goalkeeper Essam Mahmoud-again after a relentless offensive sortie from ENPPI.
Jimmy Njobvu could have made it 4-0 but his curling shot in the 73rd minute came off the right-angle of the woodwork.
Renard then rose of the dugout in a show of emotion to rouse a packed Nkoloma into a deafening roar to try and help fuel Arrows hopes of a shock upset.
Mbewe completed his hat-trick in the 90th minute when he thundered in a long-range shot to give Arrows a respectable end to their Confederations Cup campaign.
Renard was cheered by Arrows fans after the match after the French connection came close to motivating the airmen to making dramatic news headlines on Sundays back pages.
wow
Zambia sweet mother Zambia
if the did it
we can DID it as well
Zambia sweet mother Zambia
I love en Miss you
Abigail at it again, poetry in a beautiful motion. The confidence that young Zambia players are manifesting is humbling. Greatness starts with ahed work and these young men are on a true path.
Hard luck arrows but at least you have saved your selves the shame. Try next year.
Hard luck arrows
well done,herve renard is a good coach Arrows keep it up lets GO ZAMBIA!!
Seems this Renard guy has got something after all. I have been very sceptical about him, but seems like am wrong. Thanx for the job done Arrows, though not too well, a little too late. At least “mwafelukako naulemu”