Diggers iconDiggersOct 1, 2026 ~3 min source read

Togo coach Patrice Neveu complains of disrespect after 2-0 loss to Zambia

After a 2-0 defeat at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Togo head coach Patrice Neveu said the result did not reflect what happened on the pitch and claimed his team and supporters were not respected; a 20-minute power disturbance prompted Zesco to propose stadium lighting redesign talks with the ministry.

We were not respected, Togo coach cries foul after loss

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Neveu said his players and supporters were not respected but did not give detailed specifics during his post-match interview.

A power disturbance interrupted the game for about 20 minutes.

Zesco Limited said it will engage the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts about redesigning the stadium’s lighting system after the disruption.

Togo were beaten 2-0 by Zambia at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. In his post-match comments, Togolese head coach Patrice Neveu said the scoreline did not reflect what he had seen during the match. Neveu expressed disappointment and said his players and supporters "were not respected," but he did not offer detailed specifics about the incident he referenced.

Interrupted game and infrastructure response The fixture experienced a power disturbance that stopped play for about 20 minutes. Zesco Limited, the power company, responded by saying it will engage the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts to examine the stadium's lighting and potential redesign. That is the only concrete operational follow-up reported in the immediate aftermath of the match.

Neveu made his displeasure clear in the brief post-match interview. He linked the outcome to "certain things which influenced the game," yet declined to elaborate beyond saying the result didn't match the overall picture. No direct allegations against specific people, officials, or organizations were published in the available account.

Immediate consequences and next steps There are two immediate threads to watch: any formal complaints or disciplinary actions that Togo's team might file, and whether the ministry and Zesco move forward with a lighting redesign or other infrastructure fixes at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. The report names Zesco as the party set to consult government sports authorities about the lighting after the power issue caused a substantial delay.

For supporters and officials, the key practical points are the interruption to the match and the coach's public complaint. If Neveu intends to press the matter, further details would be necessary to understand precisely what he meant by lack of respect toward his players and supporters. For stadium managers, the power incident creates a clear technical problem that Zesco and the ministry have signaled they will address.

The account does not specify what form the alleged disrespect took, whether it involved match officials, stadium staff, security, crowd behavior, or something else. It also does not report whether Zambia's side or match officials have responded to Neveu's comments. Finally, the timeline and scope of any lighting redesign or repairs at the stadium have not been published in the available report.

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