Chipolopolo head coach George ‘Chicken’ Lwandamina has admitted disappointment following Zambia’s 1-1 draw against Burundi in Friday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group I qualifier at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Zambia appeared on course for maximum points after Edward Chilufya broke the deadlock in the second half, but Jean Claude Girumugisha struck in the 82nd minute to earn Burundi a share of the spoils.
Speaking after the match, Lwandamina acknowledged that his side had failed to deliver the performance they had anticipated, while appealing for continued support from the fans.
“We are all disappointed. We expected better results, but unfortunately it went the way it has gone. We only have one Zambia and they have to continue supporting the team. This is a building process,” he said.
The Chipolopolo coach also pointed to a lack of coordination, injuries and rushed decisions as some of the factors that affected his team’s performance.
“Very disappointing results. We didn’t play the way we had anticipated. We didn’t coordinate. It was in flashes. We play, we fail. The other team was trying to control the game.
“But in the second half we tried to push very hard. Of course, injuries came in. We had to make rushed decisions. That’s where we even collapsed again,” he added.
The draw leaves Zambia on four points from three matches, level with Algeria, while Togo have three points and Burundi two.
Zambia will now travel to Bujumbura for the return fixture against Burundi on November 17, with Lwandamina’s men seeking to return to winning ways and strengthen their qualification hopes.
