DOWN NOT OUT/NEVER SAY DIE

By MICHAEL MIYOBAZAMBIA national team coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic says Group H of the AFCON qualifiers is still open despite Zambia being placed bottom with three points.Speaking in a post-match interview after Zambia was stunned 1-0 by Botswana on Monday, “Micho” said the Chipolopolo would not give up on fighting to qualify for the AFCONThe Serbian said Zambia still has a chance to qualify for the 2022 AFCON to be held in Cameroon despite being bottom in Group-H.“Never say die, never give up and as such we know what it takes. We are having the CHAN in January and we want to prepare the players to be on top of their game.“In March we play Algeria at home and Zimbabwe away. With Algeria it’s already decided but for the three of us it is still very much open,” said “Micho.”He said it is unfortunate that the Chipolopolo lost to Botswana despite having given their all to triumph.“Micho” however noted that Zambia would come back strong following the defeat in Francis Town on Monday.And Minister of Sports, Youth and Child Development Emmanuel Mulenga consoled the team to remain focused despite having lost after giving everything.Mulenga said Government still believes in the team because they still have two games to play in the qualifying rounds.Meanwhile Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kananga said it is disappointing that the team lost to Botswana in a game which would have revived Zambia’s hopes of qualifying for the AFCON.Kamanga said the FAZ executive will carry out a postmortem and plan for the next AFCON qualifying games against Zimbabwe and Algeria.Kananga also stressed the need for the Chipolopolo not to give up because they still have a chance to qualify for the AFCON.