By CECILIA ZULU and ELIZABETH CHATUVELA
FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya is upbeat the Chipolopolo will qualify for the 2015 Morocco Africa Cup of Nations finals and urged players to believe in themselves.
And Minister of Youth and Sport Chishimba Kambwili is saddened with Zambia’s 1-2 loss to Cape Verde.
“Zambia will qualify to AfCON 2015. We have to continue working hard. That is  the only way,” Kalusha told fazfootball.com.
He expressed satisfaction with the performance of the team against Cape Verde but emphasised that players need to keep their concentration  high during matches.
Cape Verde beat Zambia 2-1.
He urged players to be patient and believe in themselves.
“Hard luck Chipolopolo. It was a better overall performance than when we played Mozambique in Ndola. We need more concentration. We had them [Cape Verde] under control. Yet they found a way past us. We had to work hard to get that one goal. We should also make it difficult for other teams so that they don’t score against us.
“Our balance was much better but we still have to work hard to get there. Good possession but we need to bite more. There were a lot of positives today [on Wednesday]. We need more heart especially going forward. We still have a lot to play for. We need to be patient and above all believe in ourselves,” said the 1988 Africa-footballer-of-the-year.
And Kambwili said he wanted the Chipolopolo to triumph in Praia.
“I do not have much to say on yesterday’s [Wednesday’s] game but I feel bad that we lost. Despite what has happened, I still have confidence in the boys and I’m sure we will make it to the finals.
“Let me also urge the team to start preparations for the Niger game now and players should die a little for mother Zambia in future,” he said in an interview yesterday.
Kambwili also said it is too early to blame national team coach Honour Janza for the poor start.
Mozambique held Zambia to a goalless draw at Ndola’s Levy Mwanawasa Stadium last Saturday.
“Soccer fans should not start blaming Janza for our performance. The coach is new and is trying to make a team. So let’s give him enough time because even  Manchester United coach Luis van Gaal is having a challenge at Manchester United despite having good players,” Kambwili said.