DEFIANT TOGO COACH NEVEU FUMES AFTER CHIPOLOPOLO DEFEAT….says results don’t reflect the pitch By DAVID KANDUZAAt Levy Mwanawasa StadiumZambia 2 Togo 0UNDER the erratic, dimming glare of a fractured stadium lighting system, Zambia’s Chipolopolo resurrected their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a gritty, hard-fought 2-0 triumph over Togo at the Levy Mwanawasa […]

DEFIANT TOGO COACH NEVEU FUMES AFTER CHIPOLOPOLO DEFEAT
….says results don’t reflect the pitch

By DAVID KANDUZA
At Levy Mwanawasa Stadium
Zambia 2 Togo 0
UNDER the erratic, dimming glare of a fractured stadium lighting system, Zambia’s Chipolopolo resurrected their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a gritty, hard-fought 2-0 triumph over Togo at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, on the evening of September 29, 2026.

The Group I clash generated as much friction in the post-match Press conference as it did on the pitch.

A furious Togo soccer team manager, Patrice Neveu, lashed out at the scoreline, while returning Zambian coach ‘Chicken’ George Lwandamina fiercely defended his youth policy.

An explosive opening salvo caught the West Africans completely off-guard.

Just three minutes in, Albert Kangwanda shattered the deadlock with a lethal strike inside the box, sending the home crowd into raptures.

The match was thrown into bizarre operational territory in the 21 minute when a sudden power failure knocked out a section of the stadium’s floodlights, forcing a lengthy, disruptive halt to play.

Yet, the darkness could not obscure Zambia’s resolve.

Despite absorbing waves of secondary-half pressure from a resilient Togo side, 18-year-old Eliya Mandanji emerged from the bench to seal the three points with a dramatic, 90-minute dagger.

For Togo’s veteran coach Neveu, the early concession and final scoreline were a bitter, inaccurate pill to swallow.

“I am happy with the performance of my players, though we conceded early,” Neveu said, his voice taut with frustration.

“But the results don’t reflect what actually happened on the pitch. I am deeply disappointed with the results. I have massive experience in these kinds of games in Africa.”

Gesticulating to the assembled Press room, Neveu refused to dive into detailed tactical breakdowns, challenging reporters to look at the continuous pressure his side applied during the power-interrupted match.

“You saw the game—analyse it yourself,” Neveu snapped. “Zambia deserves the results, yes, but Togolese people must be respected.”

On the opposite side of the dugout, Lwandamina breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

Having started the qualifying campaign with a bruising 3-1 loss to Algeria, this home victory was exactly the stabilising mechanism the nation demanded.

“At least we have three points now,” Lwandamina noted calmly, downplaying any immediate euphoria.

“The qualification tables will change. The work has to continue.”

Lwandamina directed the core of his post-match address toward protecting his squad from intense public scrutiny.

He fiercely defended his decision to rely on vibrant, younger talent to carry the national mantle.

“Fashion Sakala and Patson Daka are still very young and vibrant enough to help this team move forward,” Lwandamina insisted, addressing local anxieties regarding his evolving squad selection.

“We need to protect the interest of these young boys. They are the future of Chipolopolo.”

With the mathematical log in Group I completely blown open, Zambia’s raw execution proved that while the lights may occasionally flicker at Levy Mwanawasa stadium, the competitive fire of this transitional squad burns brighter than ever.