Avram Grant is not getting carried away with Chipolopolo’s 1–0 win over Tanzania on Wednesday night, with the coach expressing disappointment at his team’s performance in parts of the game.
It was an important win for Chipolopolo as it meant they ended their winless run in 2025. The first half was tightly contested and produced few chances. In the second stanza, Zambia’s wait for a win ended with a Fashion Sakala goal in the 74th minute.
The goal epitomized a training ground move with Kabaso Chongo switching play to captain Lubambo Musonda, who brilliantly set up Sakala for a close-range tap-in that gave Zambia the lead. That proved to be the only goal of the game.
Evaluating his team’s display, Grant said he was less impressed with the first-half performance.
“I think [in the] first half, I was not so happy with the performance, we didn’t manage to pass the ball like we wanted to pass the ball, quickly forward. But also, we need to say [a] good word about Tanzania, they caused us a lot of problems with the ball and without the ball.
“But second half it was better, we were the better team, we played better than the first half. It was not one of our greatest games but we deserve to win.” Grant said.
Grant has Afcon in mind
The loss was devastating for Tanzania, who were looking to sneak into second place on the table and keep hopes for a play-off qualification alive.
“Tanzania caused us a lot of problems, they pressed well, they didn’t give us space to play, we couldn’t play behind. In the second half we changed the system, from 4-6-3 we play with two strikers and a striker behind like 4-2-3-1 and I think for this game it was better for us. Then we created chances and we won and we deserve to win,” he said.
Looking ahead to the final group match against Niger, Grant stressed the importance of maintaining momentum and using the qualifiers as preparation for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
“If we win against them [Niger] probably we will be in second place and it’s a process since I came,” Grant said. “We cannot win all the games, but we need to want to win all the games and also it’s good preparation for Africa. We qualified a second time, after a long time we didn’t qualify, so I think it’s also good preparation.”
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