The Zebras crashed out of the COSAFA Cup at the quarter final stage after failing to dodge Zambia’s Copper Bullet in a penalty shoot-out.
The two teams were tied 1-1 at the end of regulation time, but Mogomotsi ‘Teenage’ Mpote’s brave boys succumbed 5-4 during penalties. Kitso Mangolo had the decisive miss.
Zambia took the lead after an own goal from Tebogo Kopolang as he raced into the box to clear the danger in the first half.
However, the Zebras hit back in the second half with a stinging strike from Mangolo who gave the crowded Zambian box no chance to clear.
The Zebras who had topped their group unbeaten but were undone after the penalty miss, which means they exit the tournament in the last eight, failing to replicate their 2019 run when they reached the final.
Midfielder, Lebogang Ditsile blamed fatigue, with Zambia only playing their first match of the tournament, while it was number four for the Zebras. Equally, Ditsile’s coach, Mpote felt the tournament’s arrangement where seeded teams only join at quarter final stage was unfair.
The nation will look for immediate remedy when the women’s side, the Mares took to the field against Morocco in a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final tie tomorrow.
