After defeating Seychelles 4-2 on Tuesday at KwaMashu’s Princess Magogo Stadium, defending champions Zambia improved their prospects of making the Cosafa Cup semifinals.

Albert Kangwanda’s early goal on the clock gave Moses Sichone’s team little time to establish their control before Killian Kanguluma, Golden Mashata, and Frederick Mulambia scored in the second half to secure the victory.

Nevertheless, the Pirates didn’t go home empty-handed as they reduced Chipolopolo’s goal differential by scoring twice in the dying minutes.

In this Group B match, Zambia needed to win to maintain their championship defence since they were level on three points with Botswana, Eswatini, Comoros, and Mauritius.

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The Copper Bullets got off to a strong start, and Mulambia gave the game away on minute 10 when he blasted from range just wide of the left post.

They didn’t have to wait long for the first goal, which came in the 11th minute thanks to a ferocious drive from Kangwanda that sailed past Alvin Michel after Kelvin Kampamba picked up a loose ball in the middle of the pitch and delivered it to Kangwanda who cut inside from the right.

Two became three right away when Mashata scored from a short distance after Michel had stopped Andrew Phiri’s original shot.

When Michel failed to stop Mulambia’s first-time shot on 73 minutes after Mashata directed a cross from the left side towards the near post, Zambia scored their fourth goal.

Nine minutes from the end, Chipolopolo lost focus and Labrosse scores after latching onto a long ball down the right wing and dodging Kanguluma to shoot past Lawrence Mulenga from an angle.

Seychelles were then awarded a penalty in the final minute and Mellie sent Mulenga the wrong way from 12 yards out to halve the deficit.