As Chipolopolo gears up for the World Cup qualifiers, the players have received a valuable piece of advice from a man who has seen it all: Wedson Nyirenda.
A host of Chipolopolo players have started joining camp in Ndola today to shape up for the team’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Congo Brazzaville at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Friday.
Nyirenda, the superintendent of Chipolopolo’s qualifying games for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, has urged the players to go all out from the start.
He has been hailed for having masterminded a double over Algeria in the qualifying group that saw Zambia finish second with eight points, five behind Nigeria, while Cameroon and Algeria had seven and four points, respectively.
In an interview with BolaNews, the Zanaco head coach stated that the World Cup qualifiers are too big a stage to begin the journey on the back foot, thus the need to maximize on early points.
“The World Cup is a different stage… We need to put our act together,” Nyirenda said, urging the Avram Grant-drilled side to build on the momentum they have had in the Africa Cup of Nations(Afcon) qualifiers.
Chipolopolo are unbeaten under Grant in competitive matches.
They have recorded three victories and one draw to qualify for the Afcon at the expense of Lesotho and Comoros.
Nyirenda says Zambia has what it takes to win the match
Looking at Friday’s match, Nyirenda said the players should not be complacent.
“We have been flowing well recently. We [are] riding on a winning spree so going into this game, we have all chances to take all the three points against Congo Brazzaville but let’s not think it will be a walk in the park.
“It is not going to be because Congo Brazzaville will give us a run…… But at the end of the day I have confidence that we are going to win this one,” Nyirenda said.
Nyirenda said that the team must also keep in mind the upcoming game against Niger in Morocco.
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Zambia is in Group E of the qualifiers, where they have been pitted against 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco.
Others in the group are Niger, Tanzania, and Congo Brazzaville, while Eritrea has pulled out of the race.
Meanwhile, strikers Lameck Banda, Fashion Sakala, and Rally Bwalya were among the foreign-based players who have already joined camp ahead of the back-to-back matches.
