Zambia coach Aljosa Asanovic has praised is players following the 1-0 defeat to Mozambique in second leg of the first round of the CHAN qualifier.
The 2022 Cosafa Champions were stunned by the Mambas at home on Saturday as they failed to make it to the second round.
“Unfortunately we are not going to the second round. We had a lot of clear cut chances. We tried to score…6,7 chances. If you don’t score the goals, sometimes football can punish you,” the Croatian bemoaned in a post match reaction.
“We got punished in the second half and after that everyone is disappointed. [I am] also disappointed.
“I am disappointed about the football and not my players. Our players or my players gave 100%, they gave energy and also quality but as you know football is played [determined] by scoring,” Asanovic said as he heaped praise on his players
“I am not happy [with the result] but I see the people [players] who love and give everything for this country but as you know in football sometimes you are not lucky especially today.
“Who can blame my players, not today, they gave everything.
Asanovic also revealed that he was touched by the turn out from the Chipolopolo faithful to cheer the team at National Heroes Stadium.
“When I came out and saw the people [fans at the stadium] how they love [show support to] the team, it is amazing. It is a [good] message to the coach and players.
“The message is we will continue to work and try score more goals. But today we created more chances but if you don’t score goals, your opponents will punish you,” he added.
