Chipolopolo physical trainer Jamie Lawrence has said the team showed character in the 5-goal thriller against Sierra Leone by twice overcoming a leveller to win 3-2.

If it were goals you needed during the international break, you did not have to look beyond Zambia’s game against Sierra Leone at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

While most Zambians are concerned at the team’s tendency to throw away leads, Lawrence was more impressed that the boys twice recovered during the game and managed to win.

He described the match as hard fought in that Sierra Leone was not an easy opponent.

“Hard fought game against a good Sierra Leone side,” Lawrence, who recently returned to the Chipolopolo bench, said on Instagram. “The players showed a lot of character to go 1 – 0 up and be hit back 1-1 two minutes later, the same in the second half going 2-1 up and being hit back 10 minutes later.”

The team showed resilience- Lawrence

The former Leicester City player said the team could have easily folded but was able to rise from the disappointment of conceding every time they took the lead.

“They could have easily folded but showed resilience and got the job done with a great free kick from Kings [Kangwa],” he said.

Zambia started the night on a high with a goal from Kennedy Musonda in the 28th minute but the lead lasted only five minutes as calamitous defending allowed the visitors to go level through Augustus Kargbo.

In the second half, an emotionally charged Kelvin Kampamba restored Zambia’s lead with a well-taken low drive in the 70th minute but Chipolopolo’s noses were only in front for three minutes.

Hindolo Mustapha eluded four defenders before sending keeper Lawrence Mulenga to the cleaners in the 73rd minute.

Zambia’s winner came from a dead ball situation where Kangwa’s expertly taken free kick was too good for the Sierra Loene wall and goalkeeper Mohamed Kamara five minutes before time.

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