DON’T GIVE UP, MAKEMBO TELLS CHIPOLOPOLO
... team told as dejected squad returns from failed CHAN outing
- The Chipolopolo who were eliminated from the Chan by defending champions Morocco following a 3-1 defeat in the quarter final stage arrived yesterday at 14:00 hours via an Ethiopian airline.
- The team will shift focus to next month's Group H Africa Cup of Nations where Zambia hosts Algeria before travelling to Zimbabwe.
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
AFTER being eliminated from the African Nations Champions (CHAN) tournament in Cameroon, the Zambia national soccer team arrived in Lusaka yesterday without fanfare.
The Chipolopolo who were eliminated from the Chan by defending champions Morocco following a 3-1 defeat in the quarter final stage arrived yesterday at 14:00 hours via an Ethiopian airline.
The team was welcomed by Zambia Sports Fans Association patron Peter Makembo and a few officials from the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ).
And speaking when addressing the team, Makembo encouraged the players not to be discouraged by their failures in Cameroon.
Makembo said the failure in Cameroon should motivate the team to fight for wins during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers slated for next month.
“Through the technical bench we will need to find a formula of how we are going to go back to our best. The CHAN is gone it is now time for us to focus on the AFCON and the World Cup qualifiers.
“We will need you the same players to achieve so don’t lose hope. People will always talk but don’t be discouraged by people’s negative opinions,” Makembo said.
After concluding their CHAN campaign with a top eight finish, the Chipolopolo will shift their attention to the AFCON qualifiers.
Zambia will host Algeria on March 22 before concluding the AFCON qualifiers with a Southern African derby against Zimbabwe on March 30 in Harare.
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