Kennedy Mweene, Zambia’s most decorated goalkeeper and one-time African champion, has revealed what he told Toaster Nsabata shortly after his blunder during the 2023 Ivory Coast Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match against Lesotho at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
The Sekhukhune United goalkeeper made a mistake when he misread the ball movement, allowing Lesotho to score from a long-range free kick to put the visitors ahead early at the Levy Mwanawansa stadium in March.
Despite the backlash from fans, England-based striker Patson Daka, midfielders Emmanuel Banda and Benson Sakala appeared to rush to encourage Nsabata as the game progressed.
The Chipoloplo Boys won that game 3-1, thanks to goals from Rangers striker Fashion Sakala and Lecce FC winger Lameck Banda who scored a brace.
In the return leg, Zambia won by two goals to nil with Daka scoring a brace and Nsabanta keeping a clean sheet.
It was Nsabanta’s first clean sheet for the National team since November 2021 when the Chipolopolo defeated Mauritania 4-0 in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Mweene’s message to Nsabata after the Levy Mwanawansa blunder
However, that strong comeback by the Sekhukhune United goalkeeper did not just happen; it took many people to talk to him and encourage him to keep his head up.
In an exclusive interview with Bolanews Mweene, who is Zambia’s most-capped international with 123 appearances for the Chipolopolo boys, he revealed that he called Nsabanta immediately after the game at Levy Mwanawansa Stadium.
“I spoke to him and told him to be mentally strong,” Mweene revealed to BolaNews. “I told him to carry on with the game. There will be a lot of criticism, but you must not take it personally; learn from that mistake and move on.”
Mweene said that he went to tell Nsabanta, “You have another game coming ahead of you, so concentrate and focus on the next game. A goalkeeper will always make blunders, but how you pick yourself up is important.”
The Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper also said that Zambia has brilliant upcoming goalkeepers, but they need guidance from experienced players like him.
“We have got good upcoming goalkeepers, but they just need guidance from us. It’s not easy to be summoned to the national team,” he said. “They are okay; that’s how you gain experience. They are still young and coming up well.”
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Zambia is currently second with nine points in Group H. They will need only a point to qualify for the Africa Cup for the first time since 2015.
The Chipolopolo Boys will host Ivory Coast at the Levy Mwanawansa Stadium on June 17 for the fifth group H match in the qualifiers.
