The Chipolopolo of Zambia side finished as runners-up at the Mukuru 4 Nations tournament in Botswana after suffering a narrow defeat to Zimbabwe in Tuesday’s final.
The decisive match, played at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown, saw Zambia concede a late goal just moments before full time, resulting in a 1-0 loss and denying them the title.
The game appeared to be heading towards a stalemate until a lapse in Zambia’s defence in the closing seconds allowed Zimbabwe to break the deadlock. The late strike ultimately proved decisive in a tightly contested encounter.
Zambia had earlier booked their place in the final after edging past Malawi in a dramatic semi-final clash. That match ended goalless in normal time, with Zambia progressing after a 9-8 victory in a penalty shootout.
Despite the disappointment of losing the final, head coach Oswald Mutapa expressed satisfaction with his team’s overall performance during the tournament, highlighting the resilience and determination shown by his largely youthful squad.
“It was a tough game. For me it is the character and the mentality the boys showed. Yes, we have lost but we are happy with the way the boys performed,” Mutapa said.
He added that the team’s displays offered encouragement for the future of Zambian football, suggesting that several players had demonstrated their readiness to compete at a higher level.
“The way the boys performed and the character showed that we really have a team for the future,” he said.
Mutapa emphasised that the tournament formed part of a broader long-term strategy aimed at developing a competitive national side, with particular focus on upcoming international competitions.
“We are trying to build a team, mainly for the Olympics. We will work on mistakes made at this tournament,” he explained.
Looking further ahead, the coach outlined an ambitious long-term plan for the squad.
“For us it is a vision of 2030. Going forward it is a vision of 2030. We will keep this team so that we are able to pick players to represent the nation in future,” Mutapa said.
