Kalusha disappointed by Zambia performance
by Mutheliso Phiri 31 January 2013, 06:58
Football Association of Zambia President Kalusha Bwalya says he is sad
and disappointed in the aftermath of Zambia’s group stage exit in the
2013 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday.
Zambia were held to a goalless draw by Burkina Faso in their third and
final Group C match at Mbombela Stadium and as a result failed to
progress to the quarter finals after Nigeria defeated Ethiopia 2-0 at
Royal Bafokeng in Rustenburg.
Kalusha told fazfootball.com that Zambia could only blame themselves
for their early exit because there was no team that was better than
them at this year’s tournament.
“What can I say? I am sad and disappointed. We all had great
expectations for this AFCON. Unfortunately we have to leave at this
stage,” said Kalusha.
“We only have ourselves to blame. I didn't see one team that was
'superior ' to us. Zambia really didn't hit 'top gear'.
“We have to be realistic. We created a few clear cut chances but we
did not turn them into goals, and on the day, if you don't score you
get punished. We complicated our progression to the quarter finals.
That was it. We were unlucky to exit in such a way, which can happen
in Football.”
The FAZ President also added that the nature of the Mbombela Stadium
pitch contributed to the team’s ‘poor’ performance.
“The playing pitch didn’t help matters either. By comparison, in 2012
in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon we would reach the opponents area one
time and it was a goal!”
Kalusha believes Zambia has a formidable established team and said the
focus would be to regroup and channel the team’s energy towards the
2014 Brazil Fifa World Cup qualification tournament.
