19.01.2024 | Football in my DNA
Former national team coach Wedson Nyirenda didn't mince words as he expressed disappointment over Zambia's draw in the opening match of AFCON 2023. Nyirenda characterized the outcome as fortunate but didn't shy away from critiquing the team's performance.
In particular, Nyirenda spotlighted the squad's deficiency in attacking intent, emphasizing the players' apparent uncertainty with the ball. He also raised concerns about the team's heavy reliance on long balls directed to Fashion Sakala on the wings.
As Zambia navigates the challenges in the tournament, Nyirenda's insights shed light on crucial areas that may require strategic adjustments for the team to make a more significant impact in the upcoming matches.
Zambia's disappointing performance in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) opening match against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has sparked concern among coaches and former national team players.
Former national team coach Wedson Nyirenda expressed his disappointment, describing the draw as a fortunate outcome. Nyirenda criticized the team's lack of attacking intent, highlighting the players' uncertainty with the ball and over-reliance on long balls to Fashion Sakala on the wings.
"We did not play well. We were not anywhere near a team that wanted the game. It was all over. Congo played very well, and we survived the onslaught," Nyirenda stated.
Dan Kabwe, the president of the Zambia Football Coaches Association, acknowledged the bad start but emphasized the importance of opening up and playing more confidently in future matches.
"It is a bad start, but it is good that we managed to get a point despite playing badly. Going forward, let’s open up and play. I’m sure we will wake up. We were so scared of Congo; I don’t know for what reason," Kabwe commented.
Kennedy Mweene, an Africa Cup of Nations winner, criticized Zambia's defensive strategy, expressing dissatisfaction with the team's deep defensive positioning. Mweene highlighted the need to work on defensive aspects, emphasizing that the team was fortunate to come out of the game with a draw.
"To be honest, I wasn’t happy with the way we defended. We were too deep. We were just in front of the goalkeeper, and anything can happen there. These are the small things we need to work on. You could see that we came out of that game lucky," Mweene said during a match analysis on SuperSport.
As Zambia looks ahead in the AFCON tournament, the collective sentiment among coaches and former players is a call for improvement and a more proactive approach in the upcoming matches.
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