Our players were slightly timid says Lwandamina

CHIPOLOPOLO coach George Lwandamina has revealed that his players were “slightly timid” facing big names in Zambia’s 5–0 defeat to Argentina.

On Tuesday night [Argentina time], Zambia were handed a heavy defeat in an international friendly against the world champions.

The team conceded an early goal, going down 1–0 to a Julian Alvarez goal off a Lionel Messi pass in the fourth minute.

Three minutes from the break, Messi benefited from an Alexis Mac Allister pass to double the advantage for the world champions.

The second half proved a disaster for Zambia as Albert Kangwanda gave away a penalty which was expertly taken by 38-year-old Nicolas Otamendi.

The game was put beyond Zambia’s reach in the 68th minute when defender Dominic Chanda turned Messi’s pass into his own goal.

Twenty-one-year-old Valentin Barco made it five in the 90th minute to finish off a Zambian side that only had one shot on goal.

Reflecting on the result, Lwandamina said in an interview that his team was slightly timid.

“Yes, we were slightly timid playing the big names and the chanting of people, but we were trying to come out of the shell and trying to string some passes. We were even threatening, but all in all we were strong, though we made mistakes,” Lwandamina said.

Lwandamina said Argentina benefited from Zambia’s mistakes.

(Mwebantu, Wednesday, 1st April, 2026)