U-23 go down fighting in Ouagadougou
Nation Reporter
U-23 go down fighting in Ouagadougou
Content Type: Free
Burkina Faso 1 Zambia 0
THE Zambia Under-23 men soccer team lost by the narrowest of margins in their first leg, second round of the African Nations Cup Under-23 qualifiers in Ouagadougou on Wednesday night despite having arrived on the morning of the game.
Despite late arrival and jet-lag, the defeat appeared to have had nothing to do with chaotic travel arrangements, with Zambia accounting for themselves well at the Stade du 4 Août Stadium.
Abdel junior Kone put the Burkinabes in front after the Zambian defence failed to pick their marker which gifted the hosts the goal.
Despite the loss, the Junior Chipolopolo had an encouraging second half, pinning Burkina Faso back but failing to find the equaliser.
Zambia made an early substitution in an attempt to amend the situation, removing Egypt-based midfielder Pascal Phiri for Anthony Shipanuka.
Phiri had missed three clear chances.
Eliya Mandanji was flagged for offside after being played through by Shipanuka.
Shipanuka gave the Burkinabes headache with his pace and eye for goal.
Zambia did not look like a side which arrived on match day with some beautiful football, building from the back and leaving Burkina Faso ball-watching.
Head coach Chisi Mbewe is confident that playing at home will give his team an advantage as they seek to overturn the deficit.
“We will be playing in front of our home fans, so we have everything in our hands to make or break. For us, we have to pick it up from where we left off in Burkina Faso.
The boys accounted themselves very well in both halves and it’s unfortunate our efforts were not rewarded,” Mbewe said.
Team captain Humphrey Bwembya said the 1-0 defeat was not the result the players wanted after giving their best in Ouagadougou.
“However painful that loss was, the team feels wounded and will go for them,” Bwembya declared.
The Junior Chipolopolo, who returned yesterday, will be looking to overturn the deficit when the two sides meet in the return leg at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka this Sunday.
The team, which left Ouagadougou at 01:30 local time, touched down at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka at exactly 10:30 hours aboard a chartered flight.
Ends.
