- Accept defeat in good faith

Zambia sports minister Chishimba Kambwili says Ghanaians must learn to accept defeat after the 1-0 painful reverse against the Chipolopolo in a 2014 World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

Kambwili added that the Black Stars must stop blaming referee Said Kordi for failing to beat Zambia in the qualifier for the tournament in Brazil.

The Ghanaian players had vented their frustration on Kordi, whom they accused of poor officiating after several fouls and handballs in the Zambian area ignored by the Tunisian official.

The Ghanaians also claimed their midfielder Derek Boateng and unused striker Benjamin Acheampong were punched by Zambia security personnel in a post-match melee.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA), who have threatened to report the incident to the Confederation of African Football, also complained that their officials were not allowed entry into the VIP lounge and made to sit amidst Zambian fans.

Kambwili, however, counselled Ghana officials saying the Black Stars should learn to concede defeat and give credit where it is due instead of giving scapegoats.

“It’s unfortunate that the Ghanaians have kind of protested against the referee when you all saw that the referee was fair,” Kambwili said.

“There is no mistake that the referee made except that he handled the game professionally.

“So, they must just accept that they have lost, and when you lose you accept that you have lost without putting blame on anybody,” Kambwili said.

The minister said the Chipolopolo’s victory had vindicated his earlier statement made after a shock 2-0 defeat to Sudan in Omdurman when he said that the African champions would bounce back against Ghana.

“I told the whole world when I was interviewed last week that losing the first game was not the end of the world,”. he said

“And true to our word, we are African champions and we will continue to be African champions, we cannot be scared of any team.

“And usually a bad beginning makes a very good ending. So you can see that Zambia’s style of play and the level of play is extremely impressive and that the sky is the limit for the Zambia national soccer team,” he said.