Beston Chambeshi says Zambia is ready for the Saturday’s 2018 COSAFA Cup final on Saturday at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane despite Zimbabwe going into the game as overwhelming favourites to retain their crown.
Zambia and Zimbabwe clash in their second successive COSAFA Cup final after the latter beat them 3-1 in the 2017 final in Rustenburg.
Chipolopolo qualified to the final against the odds after the makeshift team stuttered against Namibia in the quarterfinals to win 4-3on post-match penalties following a poor 0-0 draw on June 2.
They improved massively against Madagascar in the semifinals on June 6 winning 1-0 but could have finished the game with six more goals but poor finishing let them down in a match they overwhelmed their opponents.
“We lost the previous final to Zimbabwe but this is a different team to the one that reached that final,” Chambeshi said.
“We have a strong team that can push them to the last minute of the game and we are ready for them.”
Only one player, Green Buffaloes midfielder Jack Chirwa, of the three in the team from the 2017 team, is enjoying regular game time at the tournament that comes to an end in South Africa on Saturday.
Meanwhile, striker Lazarus Kambole will be seeking his fifth goal in nine Chipolopolo games since making his Zambia debut in January at the 2018 CHAN in Morocco where he scored two goals.
Kambole has so far scored one goal at COSAFA in the win against Madagascar.
Victory for Zambia will see them tie with record champions Zimbabwe who have five COSAFA Cup titles.
