So Zambia shamed the pessimists with the 1-1 draw against Egypt?
I anticipated another massacre but I was wrong.
Zambia at least depart the Africa Cup with a respectable four points but not enough to push them into the quarterfinals after finishing three points behind Cameroon in third place.
They made at least amends for that shambolic 5-1 loss to Cameroon and lucky 3-0 win over inexperienced Sudan in their opening two Group C games.
Against Egypt, Zambia was carried on its shoulders by three players- A feat that even the Greek god Atlas would have found very difficult to do single-handedly back in the day.
Goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene was outstanding in-between the sticks with performances that have been noted by some scouts and agents despite leaking five against Cameroon.
Felix Katongo, despite being a terrible passer of the ball, gave us hope with some midfield entertainment when it was bleak, black and chances of qualifying to the next stage became slim.
And then there was Christopher Katongo.
Zambia tried not to miss him against Sudan by getting the required 3-0 result that became the standard in Group C.
Later, Katongo made his mark and showed us there is life after Collins Mbesuma but also reminded us that there could be life without the Brondby striker in another couple of years should another messiah not be found soon.
Two late goals in two successive games brought back shades of Kalusha without the free-kicks and Katongo will duly be promoted from sergeant when he gets back home by the Zambia Army.
As for the 1-1 score line against Egypt it was a fair, and again, respectable result though it made no difference as Zambia bowed out of the Africa Cup at the group stage for sixth consecutive time.
Meanwhile, there is some hope in defence for Zambia after Kampamba Chintu made his first Africa Cup match after warming the bench on his first and only other trip in 2000.
Chintu has seemingly matured from his edgy defending at Warriors three years ago before moving to South Africa.
Now the question is how long will one of the last survivors from the class of 99 keep his sudden bust of form?
The South African-based player from Free State Stars showed signs of a confident defender when he replaced the injured and workaholic Billy Mwanza in the 33rd minute.
It was another good display from Chintu after I last saw him playing as a defensive midfielder against South Africa in the Cosafa Castle Cup final in Bloemfontein on October 24 last year.
Chintu formed a stable paring with Hichani Himoonde in Zambia’s last 57 minutes although the jury has given the latter a lot of stick in the two Group C games despite being Chipolopolo’s most prospective talent in defence.
However, Joseph Musonda and Clive Hachilensa (Touch wood) through the wings continued to make a sieve impregnable to water from a gashing tap.
And then there is the case of the midfield.
We’ve been through this route before in the last three games with a midfield that lacked any defensive resourcefulness and was guilty of three opposition stampedes in as many games in front of a backline without rivets.
Isaac Chansa needs to dig in a bit more or will continue to warm the bench at Helsingborgs in Sweden.
Is Ian Bakala the best utility midfielder we have? We all doubt that. His time is up.
One of the biggest disappoints was not Jacob Mulenga but the shock of seeing Dube Phiri play two clueless games as a starter and substitute against Sudan and Egypt.
Patrick Phiri got this one very, very wrong and should have given a chance to someone with more spark and adventure like Kabwe Warriors striker Emmanuel Mayuka.
Meanwhile, this edition of the Africa Cup has showed us that the way we play our football has no business at this tournament.
Zambia needs to evolve into a unit to match the power game of the all-conquering performances of the West and North African teams.
We do posses talent with such attributes but it is discriminated against from grassroots.
We have failed to breed the power player in our so-called academies and we will continue to suffer at the ultimate stage because of that.
You will just have to watch the Under-17 team to figure out what kind of player’s are being groomed through the system from the grassroots all the way into the league and onwards.
A lot of hard work lies ahead for those still dreaming of the possibility of better things to come in Angola and South Africa in two years time.