By ELIAS CHIPEPO  –
COACH Fighton Simukonda says he is saddened by the Zambia Under-23 soccer team’S failure to beat Botswana in the CAF 2015 African Championship second round first leg qualifier in Lobatse.
Simukonda told reporters in Botswana that he was disappointed that his side failed to kill off the game in the first half just to allow Botswana snatch a draw in the second half.
Zambia took a 13th minute lead through Shadreck Malambo but went to sleep allowing Thatayaone Ramatlapeng to equalise for Botswana as the two sides shared spoils ahead of the return fixture in two weeks time.
“I am disappointed because we could have buried the game in the first half. We should learn to finish off our chances. We lost concentration in the second half especially allowing Botswana too much space in midfield,” he said.
Simukonda, who also heaped blame on Malawian referee Patrick Ngoleka for frustrating his side with his poor officiating, has since urged his players to avoid being over confident but win the return leg to avoid what happed against Nigeria.
“Remember what happened when played Nigeria? There is no home ground advantage anymore. We drew in Abuja but lost at home. That is why I wanted to finish the game here (Lobatse), he said.
His opposite coach Charles Mokwadi expressed happiness with the way his side played and was expecting an equally tough match in Lusaka.
“It was a tough match. I am happy with the way my boys played. Zambia is a very strong team. I told the boys not to give the Zambians too much space in midfield and it worked well for us,” he said.
Mokwadi said he was expecting a tough return leg because Zambia would not want to lose at home and that he will strength his side.
On the field of play, it was the visitors who started the game on fast note in search of goals but John Ching’andu missed a sitter in the fourth minute after beating goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko but shot wide.
Goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata was immediately called into action to deny Kaone Vannderestuizen when he paired the long range effort for a corner in the sixth minute.
But Zambia’s early dominance paid off in the 13th minute when Malambo connected a Ching’andu cross to volley home the opener to quieten the home crowd.
Malambo had a good opportunity to claim a brace and double Zambia’s advantage but shot straight at Phoko after fasting on Benedict Chepeshi cross while Ching’andu’s volley in the 34th minute went wide after connecting a cross from Moses Phiri.
Botswana picked up pace in the second half dictating play but rarely gave Nsabata any difficulties until in the 70th minute.
This was when Ramatlapeng equalised for the hosts after Nasabata spilled a spilled a harmless shot onto the players’ path to calmly to score to give his side hope going into the second half.
Simukonda was left sweating after Jackson Chirwa was stretched off the pitch in the 75th minute after picking up an injury but would be happy that that Lubambo Musonda came on a replacement playing the remaining 15 minutes.
The winner of this two-legged encounter will face Ivory Coast in the final round for a place at the finals where the top three finishers earn a place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.