Zambia national team skipper Enock Mwepu admitted that he looked vulnerable in the defensive midfield role against Ivory Coast.
Mwepu was speaking at the Kenneth Kaunda international Airport upon arrival from Yamoussoukro on Saturday night.
Mwepu is expecting a tough game on Tuesday when the Copper Bullets welcome Comoros Islands in their second game of the qualification campaign.
“I wasn’t played in my normal position, but modern football involves different positions and I have to adapt to that. Like I have said we did not play our game, obviously I looked vulnerable and most of our players looked vulnerable. Looking forward to Tuesday’s game even if I play in that position we just have to play our game and do our very best and that will be it,” he said.
“It won’t be easy because they look like a Confident team, it will be one of the toughest games for us.We have be ready for them an react fast. We have to show character and personality. The only thing we have to get is three Points and that’s it.”
The Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder believes the team did not show enough character against the Elephants.
“We thank God for the traveling mercies, We are disappointed but the fans are more disappointed. Playing at this level you have to show your quality, you have to show how good you are as a team. Obviously, we did not show that character and that personality in the team,” he said.
“Going forward, on Tuesday we have to show more character , more attitude that we want to win it. Hopefully we get the three points and make the fans happy.”
“Football has a lot of things i involved, traveling, how you eat , how sleep, all these kind of things. We just have to remove the loss in our heads and recover as soon as possible. We need to go into the game ready, I hope the team shall be ready to get a win. We are trying by all means to play as a group. We know we are in a difficult moment but we trying our best to get the group going and that’s what we will try to do on Tuesday,” he added.
The Copper Bullets suffered a 3-1 loss at the hands of the Elephants on Match Day One of the Ivory Coast 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Next up Chipolopolo host the Comoros on Tuesday at the National Heroes Stadium.
Tickets for Tuesday’s match are on sale across Shoprite outlets via Computicket with prices ranging from K50-K200. Kickoff is at 18:00 hours CAT.
The midfield looked disjointed and the fullbacks were vulnerable. They would have lost by 6 goals if they played Egypt.
20
He was just outclassed by maxi gradel
He’s right though. Even at Brighton they tried to start him in the defensive midfield position, but changed him to a more forward role where he excelled. I don’t understand how you play Ivorycoast with only 2 natural defenders. Frankie Musonda and Tandi Mwape were the only known defensive players on this team.
Lubambo is not a defensive, even L. kabwe. Please coch use defense in your backline
Meaning the coach technical approach costed us ?
We need a good reshuffle
All the best boys!!!!!
[…] Source link […]
You have said exactly what we saw. But you are the captain and you need to be objective with your coach.
He messed up that game
As Comoros enter Heroes stadium give them toilet paper. This is independence stadium the home of Chipolopol. Play game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t worry about the borrowed words. Wishing you a good game.
For sure u where miss placed, in fact even the left and right full back’s,hope the coach learned a lesson
All the goals were down to poor defending. 1st goal no one watching the far post. The right winger had free space. 2nd goal – defender did not attack the ball. The striker had a free header. 3rd goal – the striker was not marked. He had a lot of space. First thing to do us fix the defence. If we lose tomorrow, it will end our 2023 CAN dream.