Zambia U23 on Saturday beat Sierra 1-0 to progress in the 2023 U23 AFCON qualifiers, but coach Osward Mutapa has stressed the team is still a work in progress.
Young Chipolopolo toiled to get the win, but unlike in the first leg in Monrovia on October 22, where they were second best, the team dominated playing familiar natural grass at home in Lusaka.
But it took over an hour for Zambia to secure the home win at National Heroes Stadium for Mutapa’s side to progress 2-1 on aggregate to the final qualifying round next year.
The goal came in the 65th minute through Andrew Phiri, who powered his way through Sierra Leone’s defence just five minutes after replacing Jimmy Mukeya.
“We are happy we emerged victorious, but again it says too much work to be done. We now have to meet Eswatini or Egypt,” Mutapa said.
“It needs more time to prepare. You can see the gaps, and the combination play at times is lacking it’s all about bringing a team together, and one needs time to fix that.
“We are happy to have moved to the next round, but we are happy to have qualified.”
The key area Mutapa will need to work in his defence.
For a second straight match, Sierra Leone’s impressive attacking partnership of Alie Conteh of FC Kallon and John Camara of Columbus Crew in the USA stretched the clearly inexperienced backline.
It took the calm figure of goalkeeper Jeban Tembo to keep out three attempts by the visitors in the match.
Zambia now heads into the final qualifying phase next March, where they will play Egypt or Eswatini for a place at the Morocco finals.
Egypt and Eswatini were in action on Sunday evening in Alexandria, with the two sides deadlocked at 0-0 from the first leg played on October 23.
Zambia is chasing a third successive U23 AFCON, which is Africa’s Olympic qualifying tournament.
