Ghampani Lungu Breaks Silence After Penalty Miss in MTN8 Final Defeat to Sundowns
- Ghampani Lungu has addressed Orlando Pirates supporters after a difficult night in Durban, with his message offering a glimpse into the aftermath of the MTN8 final
- The Zambian forward has acknowledged the encouragement coming his way after a moment that proved costly for the Buccaneers
- Pirates must now turn their attention to the league as they look to respond following the end of their four-season MTN8 reign
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Orlando Pirates forward Ghampani Lungu has spoken publicly after missing a crucial penalty in the Buccaneers’ 2-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final on Saturday, 10 October 2026. The Zambian international thanked supporters for their encouragement following the loss at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
The result ended Pirates’ bid for an unprecedented fifth consecutive MTN8 title. Sundowns scored through Teboho Mokoena and Iqraam Rayners to secure the trophy.
Lungu’s message after the costly penalty miss
Pirates had an opportunity to level the score after the restart when Mokoena was penalised for bringing down Yanela Mbuthuma inside the box. However, Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams saved Lungu’s spot-kick.
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Lungu addressed the disappointment in a message shared on Instagram on Sunday, 11 October.
“Yesterday wasn’t the outcome we worked for,” Lungu wrote, according to KickOff.
“We did our best as a team, but we know there’s more we could have done.”
He acknowledged that setbacks were part of football and stressed the importance of learning from the defeat.
“Football comes with wins and losses, and this is one of those moments to reflect, learn and come back stronger,” he added.
Lungu also thanked supporters who had contacted him with messages of encouragement.
“Every message is appreciated, and none of the love goes unnoticed,” he wrote, before urging the team to keep working.
Orlando Pirates prepare for TS Galaxy clash
Pirates must put their MTN8 disappointment behind them and turn their attention to the Betway Premiership. Abdeslam Ouaddou’s men will welcome TS Galaxy on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, giving them a chance to get back on track.
Meanwhile, Lungu will be looking to move past the final setback as the Buccaneers aim to regain their rhythm and get their league campaign back on course.
The fixture also gives Ouaddou an opportunity to assess his team’s response after missing out on silverware. With the Premiership campaign continuing, Pirates will be keen to turn their attention away from the final defeat and focus on collecting points in their upcoming matches.
Junior Khanye questions Abongile Tom’s MTN8 penalty decisions
Briefly News also reported that iDiski TV analyst Junior Khanye had questioned referee Abongile Tom’s two penalty decisions in the MTN8 final.
Khanye argued that neither incident warranted a spot-kick, offering a different perspective on the controversial calls. The analyst also suggested that the referee’s second decision may have been influenced by the first.
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Source: Briefly News
