Mayembe reflects on his Zambia debut

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Jun 06, 2021. 16:00

Ntazana Mayembe has described his Chipolopolo Zambia debut as a magical feeling despite being on the losing side of Saturday’s 3-1 away friendly loss against Senegal in Thies.

The 18-year-old Cardiff City striker came on in the 88th minute when he replaced Red Arrows defender Benedict Chepeshi.

“It was an emotional game. I mean, to come on, I thought let me just give it my all to play for the shirt and that’s all I could do,” Mayembe said.

“It was an unbelievable feeling and just overcoming my fears.”

Mayembe said it was just heartbreaking to be on the losing side in a match Zambia were second best in the first half before a much improved display after an hour of action.

“Overall, we did well in the second half and applied ourselves well but in the first half we were not switched on in terms of the way we usually play our best football,” Mayembe said.

“But I think our best football certainly came in the last ten minutes of the second half and we should have done that from the first whistle.”

Mayembe has two more matches to hopefully see action against Benin next on June 8 in Cotonou and away to Sudan on June 11.