Fans are divided over whether experienced AC Horsens attacker Lubambo Musonda or US Lecce’s Lameck Banda should start against Ivory Coast, prompting coach Avram Grant to react.
Musonda, the team’s captain, started Grant’s first game in charge of the Chipolopolo against Lesotho at the Levy Mwanawansa stadium. But the 28-year-old was subbed off after only 13 minutes due to injury.
He was then replaced by Banda, who became the first Zambian to play and score in the Italian Serie A in the just-ended season.
The 22-year-old winger went on to score a brace in that match, which saw the Chipolopolo Boys beat Lesotho 3-1.
Lubambo was unavailable for the second leg in South Africa due to the injury, so Banda started upfront alongside Patson Daka and Fashion Sakala.
Many people thought the trio played well in that game. Zambia won thanks to a brace from Daka, as well as assists from Sakala.
Meanwhile, Lubambo, who was relegated from the Danish Super League with his team, appeared in 22 league games, scoring three goals and providing three assists in the just-ended season.
Banda, on the other hand, scored two goals in the Italian Serie A in 36 appearances.
READ ALSO: Lameck Banda reacts to his injury concerns ahead of Ivory Coast clash
However, with Lubambo now fit, it was unclear whether Grant would start him against Ivory Coast or keep Banda in the starting lineup.
Grant responds to the debate
When asked about it, the Chipolopolo coach told BolaNews during a press conference at Football House in Lusaka on Monday that he doesn’t care about the players’ statuses and will select who starts based on their performance.
“I will always play the first eleven; I don’t care about anything. When choosing the team, I choose the first eleven that I think will do well,” responded Grant.
The former Chelsea FC and Ghana National Team coach also admitted that he sometimes benches good players because they will be needed later in the game.
“Sometimes I put good players on the bench because I think substitutes are very important, especially now that there [is a provision to make five substitutes]. Sometimes players that can play will be on the bench because you need them [later in the match]”
Grant is pleased that the players vying for a spot in his starting lineup are causing him headaches.
“About competition between players, if there was no competition, I wouldn’t be here. My target is to have thirty players that will play for the national team….. And all of them will be in good shape. All of them will play, and I will have to pick the best [among them].
“I said that the players would give me a lot of headaches,” he added. “This is their job, and my job is to pick the strategy, the tactics, and the best from them. That’s what I did before, and that’s what I am doing here.”
Zambia host Ivory Coast on June 17 2023 at the Levy Mwanawansa stadium in Ndola.
Grant is just a point away from qualifying the Chipolopolo Boys for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2015.
They are second in Group H, nine points behind ground leaders Ivory Coast.
