Former Zambia national team captain and 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winner Christopher Katongo has urged the Chipolopolo Boys to die a little for their country when they face Morocco in their final group F match tonight.
The Chipolopolo will be heading into this crucial fixture needing only a draw to advance to the knockout stage.
Morocco’s coach, Walid Regragui, who led the Atlas Lions to a semifinal finish at the 2022 FIFA World Cup said, “We are focused on winning three points,” adding that “we came here to be first in the group.”
But Katongo believes the Chipolopolo can upset the current highest African team tonight.
“We have one last shot tomorrow [tonight]. The boys will have to play for the badge for the country,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Monday night.
“They will have to go in so hungry for a win,” he added. “They will have to play like this is their last Afcon game before retirement. The Boys will have to give it their all; they will have to die a little, stretch to the limit, and fight like never before.”
“We are not a small team”- Katongo
The 2012 BBC African Footballer of the Year continued: “Morocco is no small team, nor are we. We are Champions of Africa. Let that star on the badge mean something to each Copper Bullet.
“Put on a good show Champs, I believe in you; I know you can pull off something great, but only if you yourselves believe and want more like we did and probably beyond.”
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Morocco leads Group F with four points and has already advanced to the knockout stage, while DR Congo, Zambia, and Tanzania compete for the final spot in the group, with a third-place finish also on the line.
