The Moses Sichone-coached side Zambia beat Lesotho 1-0 to claim their seventh title of the 2023 Cosafa Cup tournament on Sunday evening at the King Zwelithini Stadium.
Forest Rangers attacker Moyela Libamba scored the game-winning goal for the Chipolopolo Boys in the 78th minute.
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The team’s attention now shifts to the first round of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers, which will take place from July 28 to 30, with the second leg taking place from August 4 to 6.
Zambia will face Mozambique in the first round of the qualifiers.
Sichone, who coached the team at the Cosafa tournament, is pleased that the Chipolopolo Boys have won the cup a record seven times.
He also outlined the importance of the Cosafa tournament to the team.
“We used the Cosafa as a developmental tournament to give the young players the exposure that they needed,” he revealed. “So it is important that the guys participate in this tournament. It also gives the head coach a chance to try and see which players did well and can be fused into the main team, and of course, prepare for CHAN.”
Sichone also revealed his conversation with the final’s winning goal scorer, Moyela Libamba.
“This is what we expect from players; Moyela has been doing good work in training. I have been troubling him because he didn’t score. This morning, when I spoke to him, he promised me thatCoach, today I am going to score.”
It was Libamba’s first goal in the competition. It saw him walk home with the final Man of the Match award.
