LUSAKA, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Thursday congratulated the national soccer team for recording the first win in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Chipolopolo beat Guinea Bissau 2-1 during the third game of the Group K qualifiers played on Wednesday evening at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, the country's capital.
The win moved the team to four points, alongside Guinea Bissau and Mozambique who are only separated on goal difference while Namibia are still rooted at the bottom with one point.
"This victory is not just for the players and their technical bench. It is Zambia's victory. I therefore urge all the players and the technical bench not to relax but instead draw more inspiration from a job well done," he said in his congratulatory message sent to the team.
Lungu, who is also patron of the soccer governing body, said the victory has reinstalled the country's pride in football and further urged soccer fans to continue supporting the team.
Zambia will face Guinea Bissau in another game on Sunday for the return match.
Head coach Sven Vandenbroek said there was no need to celebrate the impressive victory which has ignited the team's chances to qualify for next year's Africa's showpiece.
He said while the win came as a relief, there was no need to celebrate as the team was far from qualifying, adding that only a win away in Guinea Bissau will put the team o a firm foundation to qualification.
