Eswatini women’s national team head coach Bongani Makhukhula said his side shocked Zambia with their performance in the final Group B encounter at the ongoing COSAFA Women’s Championship despite going down 2-1.

Eswatini bowed out of the competition after losing to Zimbabwe and Zambia and drawing with Botswana.

Despite the loss, Makhukhula stated that the team showed a lot of improvement against the defending champions, leading to the Zambian technical bench making changes to the starting eleven.

“Heads up to my girls. They really gave Zambia a run for their money. Everyone witnessed. It’s a work in progress. They are really growing game after game,” he said.

“What a game of football. Only for that sloppy and lack of communication goal that we conceded, of which it ensured that the Zambians came back to the game. So all in all, we tried everything that we had to come back to the game. And the Zambians can attest that they were really pushed.”

There is future in youthful team – Makhukhula

He observed that Zambia underrated his team by completely changing the team that played against Zimbabwe.

“It isn’t exactly what they expected to see on the day. You could see the refreshing of their team that, OK, we’re not taken seriously. But then after we scored, they said, ‘Hey, what is happening now?’ So all in all, I can appeal to the Swazi nation for support for this youthful squad.”

“There is a future in them. It’s the first time we scored against Zambia. And also the match was 2-1. So personally I accept the results. So just ensure keeping them together for the next tournaments; there will be a force to be reckoned with.”

Zambia and Zimbabwe progressed to the semifinals of the championship as group winners and best-placed, respectively.

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