Caretaker Zambia coach Moses Sichone says Chipolopolo were just unlucky in a game of two halves during Thursday’s friendly loss away to Israel.
Zambia ended 2023 on a losing note after Israel defeated Chipolopolo 4-2 in the two sides’ debut meeting played in Petach Tikva.
Israel went into the break leading two-nil courtesy of goals by Tai Baribo and Din David in the 21st and 24th minutes, respectively, before Zambia rallied in the final 45 minutes.
Sichone admitted that it took a while for his backline to get into the groove against Israel after conceding two goals in the space of three minutes.
WHAT THE COACH SAID
“I picked the positive attitude of the players after I spoke to them in the second half,” Sichone said.
“I liked the reaction, I like the way we were calm on the ball, the intensity too of the second half, but we were just unlucky because Israel looked tired.”
Zambia’s mini-comeback started in the 55th minute when Red Star Belgrade midfielder cut Israel’s lead.
Amazulu midfielder Rally Bwalya equalised in the 67th minute to score his debut Chipolopolo goal.
But forward Lameck Banda of Serie A side Lecce missed a fantastic chance to put Zambia ahead for the first time in the match in the 71st minute.
However, just as the game looked like it was heading for a draw, midfielder Emmanuel Banda from Djurgarden in Sweden conceded an own–goal.
It got worse for Zambia in stoppage time when Itamar Shviro stole a win for Israel.
“It is unfortunate we lost the game; we came down from two-zero to two-two, and we actually had a chance to take the lead, but then we scored an own goal, and in the last-minute Israel scored. We were just unlucky,” Sichone said.
It was Zambia assistant trainer Sichone’s second successive defeat at the helm as caretaker boss after Chipolopolo lost 1-0 away to Mali in a friendly played in Bamako on September 23.
Sichone is in temporal charge after Aljosa Asanovic of Croatia quit in September.
But FAZ has come up with a three-man shortlist comprising of ex-Chelsea and Ghana coach Avram Grant, who is up against former Zambia bosses Honour Janza and Wedson Nyirenda.
