AFCON Zambia coach blames loss of concentration for loss to Ivory Coast

Zambia coach Aljosa Asanovic has said concentration lapses cost the Chipolopolo the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group qualifying game which they lost 3-1 to Ivory Coast on Friday evening.

He said this in a post-match interview after the Group H game played in Ivory Coast.

My team wasn’t looking very well because we were losing some concentration. They [Ivorians] knew how to control the game. When you are playing aganst Ivory Coast, they punish you if you do not have the cocentrantion,” Asanovic said.

The Chipolopolo started the game strongly and managed to hold the Ivorians to a goaless draw in the first half.

However, the Elephants turned on the screws in the second half after Wilfred Zaha’s introduction when Serge Aurier, Christian Kouamé and Ibrahim Sangaré

The visitors pulled one goal back through Leicester City’s Patson Daka’s simple tap in late in the game at the Stade Yamoussoukro.

Zambia return home to welcome Comoros next week when the islanders would certainly be seeking to build on their 2-0 win over Lesotho in another game played on Friday evening.

Ivory Coast lead the group followed by Comoros then Zambia and Lesotho.

Ivory Coast will host the next AFCON edition hence Zambia, Comoros and Lesotho will fight for the two qualifying spots from the group.


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