Tonight marks the beginning of Zambia’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying journey with a challenging match against Ivory Coast. This encounter is particularly significant for coach Avram Grant, who is nearing a year without a competitive win.
Grant had a flying start to life as Chipolopolo coach a year ago, beating Lesotho back to back before seeing off Ivory Coast 3 – 0 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in a match that saw him win his doubters.
A 4-2 win against Congo Brazzaville in November of last year meant Grant had won his four opening matches in competitive games. This time around, there was a sense of unity and collective purpose. The team, the fans, and the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) seemed to have been pulling in the same direction for the first time in a while.
Fast forward to today, and the situation is markedly different. The harmony that once existed has been replaced by discord and controversy. The air that greeted Grant in the first months of his tenure has since evaporated.
One of the most pressing issues is Grant’s fallout with key players, notably Fashion Sakala. The Al Fayha star has publicly accused Grant of coercing players to sign with agent Nir Karin as a condition for national team selection.
These allegations, which Grant has of course denied, have not only strained the relationship between the coach and some players but have also eroded the trust of many fans. It is fair to mention that there have been some who have stood by Grant.
Adding to the turmoil are reports of Grant’s disagreements with the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) in the build-up to this game. The association allegedly appointed Beston Chambeshi and Wedson Nyirenda as his assistants, a move Grant vehemently opposed.
What is next for Grant and Chipolopolo?
On the pitch, things have not gone well for Grant who is yet to record a win in a competitive game since the 4 – 2 victory over Congo in a World Cup qualifier on November 17 last year.
Against this backdrop, Zambia faces the daunting task of starting their qualifiers on a positive note. The fact that they are facing the defending champions on home soil does not help Grant’s cause.
The stakes are high, a strong start is crucial for Chipolopolo’s chance of making it to the AfCON in Morocco. It will be interesting to see if the team can rise above the noise and deliver on the pitch.
However, the gaffer says he is determined to qualify Zambia for the AfCON for the second time in a row.
“We always give our best and we try to get a good result here. We have a lot of respect for them, but we have a target and our target is to be in Africa for the second time in a row.
“Even if we win or lose, nothing; we’ll be finished in the first game. I told this also to the players. We have a big game on Tuesday and then we have other four games. Our target is to be between the two that will qualify for Africa. This is our target.”
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