Zambia was eliminated early from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after failing to win a single match in Group F, which included the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco, and Tanzania.
The Chipolopolo scored only two goals in three group-stage matches, drawing 1-1 with Congo and Tanzania before losing 1-0 to Morocco in the final match.
Coach Avram Grant was disappointed with his team’s early elimination. He claimed that he had done a lot of work and that they deserved a spot in the knockouts.
The former Ghana and Chelsea manager also partly attributed Zambia’s elimination to Beninese referee Djindo Louis Houngnandande, who officiated his side’s second game against Tanzania, in which he red-carded defender Rodrick Kabwe and issued four yellow cards.
Grant has received support from the Zambian government through the Minister of Sports, Elvis Nkandu, who, according to ZNBC, has asked the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) to keep the technical bench because it has the potential to qualify the country for the 2025 AFCON and World Cup, respectively.
Grant on World Cup qualifiers plans with Zambia
The 68-year-old has already set his target for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after Zambia’s exit from the AFCON.
“I think we can qualify for the playoffs of the World Cup….. And I think the team is more experienced now,” he told reporters after Zambia’s loss to Morocco in San Pedro.
Grant added that he will continue to bring in more young players to the team ahead of the qualifiers.
“We continue to mix them [young and senior players] and develop our game. But we need to improve things on the pitch and especially off the pitch and then we can make a step forward.
“We did a lot of work last year. That’s why, to be honest, I am very frustrated….. Because we deserve to be in the second round but we are not.”
Chipolopolo began their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 4-2 victory over Congo Brazzaville before falling 2-1 to Niger last year.
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They will face Morocco on June 5, 2024, before hosting Tanzania three days later.
