FAZ General Secretary Urges Honest Reflection After Chipolopolo’s CHAN 2024 Exit

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) General Secretary Machacha Shepande has called for candid reflection and accountability following Chipolopolo’s underwhelming performance at the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024.

Speaking at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka on the team’s return, Shepande admitted that the national team’s outing fell short of expectations.

“Our participation at CHAN was not good, you all know it. The expectations back home were quite high, but we didn’t meet what was expected of us,” Shepande said.

He emphasized the importance of learning from both the positives and negatives of the campaign, while also urging the technical bench to confront the shortcomings head-on.

“The first step to overcome a challenge is to admit and acknowledge and recognise that there is a problem,” he stated.

Shepande, who officially reported for duty at Football House on the same day, said he felt it was necessary to personally welcome the team despite the disappointing results.

He commended the players for giving their best under the circumstances but stressed that FAZ would await a comprehensive technical report before charting the way forward.

Chipolopolo’s elimination has sparked debate among fans and stakeholders, with growing calls for restructuring in both player development and technical approaches.