Chipolopolo coach George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina says his players failed to reproduce their impressive training performances on match day after Zambia were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Burundi in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
Lwandamina admitted that his side’s failure to execute the basics, including ball control, contributed to Friday’s disappointing result at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Zambia had looked well prepared heading into the Group I encounter, but the coach was left frustrated by the contrast between the team’s work on the training ground and their performance on the pitch.
“The team had been doing very well, training very well, but on the day of the game, they failed to replicate,” Lwandamina said after the match.
“We made basic mistakes, even ball control, we were failing at some point. That’s why it was more painful.”
The Chipolopolo broke the deadlock in the second half through Edward Chilufya and appeared on course for maximum points before Jean Claude Girumugisha equalised for Burundi in the 82nd minute.
Lwandamina felt his side had started to gain control in midfield before a defensive error allowed the visitors back into the contest.
“It was just one mistake that we made and they equalised. Otherwise, the team started to stabilise in the midfield,” he explained.
The coach also defended his decisions to withdraw some players, revealing that fatigue and injury concerns forced him to manage his squad with the return fixture in mind.
“Definitely, if we had carried on and the players fought to the end, you know, we had fatigue creeping in. Some didn’t finish the game and we thought we had to rest them so that they play in the next game.
“If we had forced them, then even the next game was going to be very difficult,” he added.
Lwandamina further pointed to visible signs of exhaustion among his players, saying some had indicated they could no longer continue.
“I’m sure you were there on the pitch. You saw players raising their hands, indicating that I can’t continue.”
The draw leaves Zambia on four points from three matches, level with Algeria, while Togo have three points and Burundi two.
The Chipolopolo will have an opportunity to respond when they face Burundi again in the return fixture in Bujumbura on November 17.
