Chipolopolo boys midfielder Emmanuel Banda, says the team would take motivation from their surprising loss to Niger in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
With three points from two games so far, Zambia will play Tanzania on June 11 and Morocco on June 7.
The 2012 African Champions will first play Tanzania at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola after traveling to Agadir, Morocco.
Following the team’s training session, Banda stated that the Chipolopolo boys had learned from its last qualifying match loss to Niger.
In order to have a chance of making it to the World Cup, he said, the team needs to win its next two games.
“We all want to win and play our hearts out and get maximum points, for we know the goal that is at stake, which is the World Cup.”
“We are going back to Morocco, where we lost to Niger. I feel it is also a motivating factor because we all know how it felt when we lost to Niger in a game. I believe we were confident to get maximum points.”
The Rijeka midfielder is aware of the threat the Atlas Lions possess, but the team’s aim is to avoid a negative result.
“We all know Morocco is a good side; they have big players. We played them in the group stages of the AFCON as well. I think we went head-to-head with them despite losing that game,” he stated.
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Nine foreign-based Chipolopolo players are already at camp as of Thursday. Among them are Patson Daka, Kings Kangwa, Frankie Musonda, Lubambo Musonda, Miguel Chaiwa, Gift Mphande, Emmanuel Banda, Evans Kangwa, and Obino Chisala.
