Zambia finally recorded their first win of the ongoing COSAFA Cup tournament as they edged the Zebras of Botswana 2-1 on Tuesday afternoon at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium.
The win means Zambia has kept its hopes of qualifying for the semifinals alive.
Coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic made six changes to the team that suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at the hands of Eswatini. 2012 AFCON winner Kennedy Mweene was dropped to the bench alongside Zachariah Chilongoshi, Kabaso Chongo, Salulani Phiri, Moses Phiri, and Brian Mwila.
Gamphani Lungu, Justin Shonga, and Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba returned to the starting lineup while Gregory Sianjase and Isaac Shamujompa made their first starts for the tournament.
Cape Town City forward Justin Shonga put Zambia in the lead in the 20th minute to make sure the Copper Bullets went to the break leading by a lone goal.
Thatayaone Kgamanyane pulled the Zebras level in the 59th minute before Shonga could seal the win from the penalty spot, 2-1 the match ended.
Zambia must now beat South Africa on Wednesday to stand a chance of progressing to the semifinals, as well as hoping that Botswana defeats Eswatini.
That would leave all three sides on six points and create a mini-league which would come down to goal difference and potentially goals scored. Or perhaps even the drawing of lots. However, Eswatini needs just a point to qualify for the semifinals.
COSAFA Cup 2021 – Zambia v Botswana. Check out the full statistics here – https://t.co/xfu8jN0WLX pic.twitter.com/xLVNUURici
— COSAFA (@COSAFAMEDIA) July 13, 2021
They should beat southafrica to keep their hopes alive. The damage has already been done. They lost against minnows.
Micho ends kwanu!¡!!!
Micho enda kwanu!!!!! Kwanuuu!!!
The Coach can’t score goals for the players. They were missing chances that were basic for any striker or players who earn a living playing football.
No fighting spirit. Lets not always blame the Coach.
Just come back guys. Always calculating if we pass through or not . We are tired of such games. Micho pack for good from there . Go direct to your country. You have failed us . Kamanga start preparing a resignation letter. We want new blood for a new beginning. You have also failed Zambia. You have put us in a worst position ever in the history of football of our country. Please….leave football house.
Micho, we don’t want you, go back to your country….you are fired!
Micho is a very good coach, it’s quality of players we are lacking because our local league has gotten diluted with sub-starndard foreign players, but with the limiting of foreign players per club from next season, the situation will change for better! Micho doesn’t score goals, he just tells the players system to use to score goals! Football is about goals, but if players fail to tap in the simplest of goals, which even a blind man can score, then they are not national team material! So Zambia now needs to score as many goals as possible against South Africa to qualify!
South Africa should be beaten with a high score line to earn a positive and high goal difference. And let them not conceed against South Africa
South Africa is a strong side though beatable hence the need for the guys to die a little for mother Zambia. Early goals by CHIPOLOPOLO will settle them down. Go Zambia GOAL…
South africa is a hard nut to crack. They want to maintain 100 percent record. We are now relying on other countries to play for us. This is nonsense. Its time up micho must go. If we keep micho kamanga must resign. Between the two one must go
I see Zambia losing this game because of the blunt strike force.