PORT ELIZABETH — Zambia coach Herve Renard has conceded that his players failed to heed to his warnings about the clear and present danger posed by Ethiopia.
Report by Supersport
A 10-man Ethiopia held Zambia to a 1-1 draw in a match in which they outplayed the African champions.
“We have to restart the stop watch in the remaining two games,” Renard said.
“For us the draw looks like a loss. We should have beaten Ethiopia, but we underrated them.”
Renard said it hurt him to see Zambia play catch-up in the first half against Ethiopia.
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Firstly, goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene saved Zambia’s blushes when he stopped a penalty on 23 minutes.
Zambia still could not wrestle Ethiopia to the ground even when they were reduced to 10 men in the 32nd minute when goalkeeper Bushura Tasew was sent off for a challenge on Chisamba Lungu.
“Ethiopia had a very good game and we were not at our level in the first half,” Renard added. Renard says it was thanks to Free State Stars goalkeeper Mweene that his side were able to earn a point.
The East African side had the backing of over 20 000 Ethiopians, who had eagerly made their way down to Mbombela for the country’s first Africa Cup of Nations in 30 years.
On the field the Walya Antelopes impressed and could have had two goals in the first-half had Saladin Said’s early lob not bounced over the goal, and had he not had his penalty kick saved by Mweene.
“Today we have to thank our goalkeeper because without Mweene maybe it could have been a very bad result,”said Renard.