Former Chipolopolo defender Hichani Himoonde believes Zambia’s international friendly against Russia presents a perfect opportunity for the team to showcase their progress.
The Chipolopolo are in Moscow for the friendly, which is set for Tuesday at 19:00 CAT.
In an interview, Himoonde emphasized that Zambia is a powerhouse on the continent and should use the match against Russia to make a statement as one of Africa’s best.
The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winner is confident that Zambia has the potential to defeat the hosts, provided there is strong coordination between the players and the technical bench.
“Zambia is one of the powerhouses on the continent, and this game will remind everyone what Zambia is made of. We (Zambia) can beat any team as long as all the players and the technical bench are united,” Himoonde said.
Himonde has urged the players to put in the best performance against Russia.
“Being called up to the national team isn’t easy… They need to go out there and play for the nation with all their heart. They should play as per instructions from the technical bench, and they should not be intimidated by Russia,” he stated.
He is confident Zambia will prove to be a challenging opponent for Russia.
“My expectations for this match are that Zambia will play well... And can even go as far as winning the game,” he concluded.
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