Mbewe: Not a good showing as champions

by Staff Reporter

Thursday Jul 04, 2024. 13:00

Zambia coach Chisi Mbewe expressed disappointment at their 2024 COSAFA Cup campaign after failing to clear the first hurdle as defending champions.

The Copper Bullets were viewed as favourites to win a record eighth title ahead of the tournament in South Africa, but they made a poor start after going down 2-0 to Kenya in their opening match.

Worse was to follow for Mbewe’s side as they also suffered a 2-0 defeat to Zimbabwe, leaving them with an uphill task to qualify for the knockout stages.

The seven-time COSAFA Cup winners crashed out of the 2024 edition without a victory to their name after losing 1-0 against Comoros on Tuesday, July 2, with the Coelacanths going on to claim top spot in Group B.

Mbewe acknowledges that performances were nowhere near good enough in the tournament as they exited at the group stages for only the second time in 22 appearances.

“A very disappointing performance from our side. We have played three games and we have not scored any goals, and we have lost all three games which is not good for the champions,” he said.

“I think we performed below average. When you are a champion you need to perform like a champion, but the way we performed is very questionable and good for being champions.

“[Looking] To the game, the first half we tried to command the game, but again we came into the second half [and] we slipped up, allowing Comoros to score which became very difficult for us.

“Otherwise overall I think our performance has not been good enough in this tournament.”