I do not think of losing before any match
By Oliver Chisenga in San Pedro, Cote D’Ivoire
CHIPOLOPOLO coach Avram Grant says he does not think of losing before any match but concerntrates on getting a positive result.
Responding to a question during the pre-match press conference at Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pedro, Grant said he was looking to collect maximum points from tomorrow’s Group F encounter against Tanzania.
“We want to qualify to the next round. We are always looking to improve in all aspect, be it defence or offence. I don’t think about losing before the game. We know it’s a tough game but we think positive about each game,” Grant said.
He said the game against Tanzania would be different from Zambia’s opening group match against Congo DR on Wednesday which 1-all.
“This game is different as the opponent is different. We shall approach it with caution. After we scored [against DRC] we conceded too early but that is football and it’s the nature of the game. Our target is to qualify to the next round. We will prepare for anything,” Grant said.
And Fashion Sakala says the Chipolopolo Boys are prepared to facè Tanzania in their second group match of the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
“We are ready to fight. We did our best [in the Congo match] and we are looking forward to the next game and the team is ready to fight,” he said.
“We have a young squad and that is a good thing for us to prepare. We started well with a draw. We are trying very hard to get the results and as was in 2012 where Zambia was not the better team but won the championship, we will do the same.”
Sakala further said: “Every game is very important and our eyes are on the AfCON. This game will be tough but we will prepare for Tanzania.”
Meanwhile, Tanzania assistant coach Hemed Suleiman Ali said he knows tomorrow’s game won’t be easy.
Ali, who is sitting in for suspended manager Adel Amrouche after he was given an eight-match ban by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), said the latter’s absence from the bench would not affect his team’s performance.
“We know Zambia is a good team we respect them but we are ready to play with Zambia. They are a strong squad and they want to win like we want to win so it’s going to be a tough game. Our coach has not been fired, he has just been banned. We will sort out the problem together and everything is going to be alright. I’m not new on this tournament and I don’t have pressure,” said Ali.
Zambia and Tanzania take to the turf at 17 hours local time (19 hours Zambia time) in their second Group F game.
In the day’s earlier match, Congo DR will take on Morocco who beat Tanzania 3-0 in the two sides’ opening group match on Wednesday.
The Mole
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