Prior to the CECAFA Cup in 2024, Chisi Mbewe oversaw the Zambia national team, who had a terrible performance and failed to defend the COSAFA title in the group stage.
Zambia lost all three group-stage matches without scoring a single goal. Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Comoros all won 2-0, 2-0, and 1-0 over the Chipolopolo boys.
Soccer pundits did not give Mbewe a chance, as no Zambian club has ever won the East Africa interclub tournament.
Against Rwanda’s APR FC, who were seeking their fourth title after winning the regional interclub competition on three occasions, Arrows had to be at their best to emerge victorious.
Ricky Banda scored in the 62nd minute, but the Airmen gave up a 1-0 lead in the last seconds of regulation time.
“We’re happy to win”-Mbewe.
After winning an exciting championship match, the Zambian team was all smiles. ” We are Champions and God is good. We started the tournament struggling, but we are now the champions,” Paul Katema told Cecafaonline.
Red Arrows coach Chisi Mbewe praised his players for their high levels of discipline and fighting spirit. “They fought as a team and we are happy to win the Cup,”.
Niyomugabo, the APR captain said it was not their day to win. “We tried to fight and managed to equalize, but failed in the penalties,” added the captain.
After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, Al Hilal defeated Hay Al Wadi 3-2 in penalty shootouts to secure the third-place spot.
READ ALSO: Red Arrows win 2024 CECAFA Cup to write history.
Red Arrows walked away with US$30,000, while the runner-up bagged silver medals and US$20,000, and the third-placed US$10,000.
