Zambia coach Avram Grant is set to announce his provisional squad for next month’s FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Niger and Tanzania.
But the Israeli is nowhere in the country despite pressure mounting for him to resign following the Chipolopolo’s dismissal performance this year.
Zambia were eliminated in the group stage at the CHAN tournament in Kenya.
In the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the Chipolopolo Boys have only recorded one victory, and suffered five consecutive defeats to many wondering if the 70 year old can still coach at this level.
While Grant secured Zambia’s back to back AFCON qualification, questions are being asked if the former Chelsea and West Ham boss is able to unearth a gem from the local league.
It has come a normal routine that Grant only spends more time in Dubai and London than in Lusaka.
The Israeli is only in Zambia during the FIFA international break and immediately after the window is done, off he goes to base.
It’s actually not surprisingly that Grant was no where near Power Dynamos and Zesco United’s continental matches in the last nine days.
It is against this background that Grant keeps on recycling the same players every time he calls camp.
News filtering through from Nkoloma Stadium is that Albert Kangwanda has been impressive so far.
Has he heard of a 19 year old winger Lewis Mwachisemo? One doubts but such has been life under Grant.
Grant is also over reliant on players recommended by his handlers.
There are also suggestions that maybe he will step down after the African Cup of Nations in November.
Why wait, just fire him now and engage a local coach. Zambians are so passive in an aggressive world. Other national teams would have sacked months ago.
Lol a call for a Zambian coach is laughable because we have the likes of Bakala – Wedson – and many more including Sichone who have shown no character whatsoever.
Ingact a Zambian coach damped a poorly assembled CHAN squad when his assembled squad needed him most & grandpa Grant is absorbing the blame for ingredients he was not responsible for.
LET THE COACH BOW DOWN AFTER the upcoming AFCON we lose nothing. No coach can turn this around given the assignments before us.
The coach and his squad OWE THE NATION AFTER THEIR display in the previous AFCON and Wourld Cup qualifiers.