Mwepu - Chipolopolo delivered

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Sep 05, 2021. 16:00

Chipolopolo captain Enock Mwepu says it was an honour to have scored and led Zambia to victory in Friday’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B qualifier 2-1 away triumph against Mauritania.

The victory handed Chipolopolo its first opening day victory in a FIFA World Cup or AFCON qualifier since 2015.

Mwepu led by example on September 3 in Nouakchott when he scored the opening goal for Zambia that saw them take a comfortable one-nil halftime lead en route to finishing second in Group B on match-day-one tied on 3 points with Tunisia whom they host in an early top-two showdown this Tuesday in Ndola.

“It has been a privilege to lead this team, I know they (our fans) are proud that we have won but we have a lot of work to do,” Mwepu said.

“We will try and work on every area in the team starting from goalkeeping to the striking so that we become better. Fans have to be patient and we are going to achieve.”

The victory comes as Zambia tries to pick up the pieces following an agonizing and unprecedented three successive failures to qualify for the AFCON.

Furthermore, despite Zambia’s football reputation, Chipolopolo has never been to the FIFA World Cup.

“We need everyone to work together and I see Zambia going to the World Cup and I, being the captain, will be very happy,” Mwepu said.