Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) President, Andrew Kamanga says he is happy with the Competition that the Chipolopolo Boys received during Friday’s loss to Iraq.
Kamanga is happy that the technical bench handed a few youngsters their competitive international debuts.
“Football felicitations to all the followers of the beautiful game. This week is special as it marks the first FIFA window in 2022. As usual, we have committed to making the most of this window on the FIFA calendar to give our team an opportunity to play friendly matches. This is key as it will help the technical bench assess the state of the team ahead of the Ivory Coast 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in June,”Kamanga said in his weekly the President’s corner.
“We also have our eyes on the African Nations Championship (CHAN) squad that we sent to Iraq for an international friendly in Baghdad. We are happy with the competition that a full-strength Iraq side provided our lads.”
“It was heartening to see the technical bench hand debut international caps for five promising talents. The atmosphere of a packed 33, 000 fans is one you can count on to give any team some level of football test. We have no doubt the technical bench will keep working on our best local talents whilst nor losing sight of the progress of the foreign based players,” he added.
A locally assembled Chipolopolo side suffered a 3-1 defeat to Iraq in an international friendly match on Friday night at Baghdad’s Madina Stadium.
Iraq scored four goals – three for themselves and one a donation for visiting Zambia. Ismaeel Dergham gave Iraq a 1-0 in the 11th minute after he converted from the spot kick. Thirteen minutes later Ibrahim Ahmed added the second for the home team as Iraq dominated.
With Iraq dominating play, Zambia got a lifeline with Natiq Saad scoring an own goal off an Albert Kangwanda curling free kick.
Aymen Hussein arguably scored the goal of the match after he unleashed a 25 yard scotcher which left beat the impressive Charles Kalumba in goal and seal a win for Iraq.
Aljosa Asanovic has now shifted attention to Friday’s international friendly match against Congo Brazzaville in Turkey and Guinea in Paris four days later.
Asanovic is using the FIFA window to prepare for the June round of the Ivory Coast 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
