Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant says he is aware that Cote d’Ivoire is a good team, but Zambia will concentrate on doing its part to get a good result against the African champions.
And midfielder Emmanuel Banda says the team is working very hard to get maximum points at home to Cote d’Ivoire on Friday.
Speaking during the pre-match conference at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Grant said Zambia was drawing a lot of motivation from the prospects of back-to-back AFCON appearances.
“”In any case, we know that they are a very good team, but we have to concentrate on what we have to do to pick a result,” he said.
“It is a fact that Ivory Coast have qualified already so they are more relaxed.”
“Ivory Coast is a good team, with good players, no doubt about it. They are champions of Africa, and they secured their place yesterday, two days before the end which means that they have a lot of good players. We have a lot of respect but on the pitch we will play our game.”
The gaffer said Zambia had destiny in its hands in the remaining two fixtures in the qualifiers.
“So far results show it depends on us because in any case, it could go to the last game,” he said.
And Banda who is on the books Al Tai in Saudi Arabia said the Zambian squad was ready for Friday’s titanic clash with the Elephants.
“We have prepared adequately as a team, we know tomorrow’s game is an important game, we are focusing on getting maximum points, we want to get back to the AFCON. Everyone in the squad believes that we are going to do our best. We are determined to get a good result tomorrow and hope to make everyone proud,”
Zambia and Coted’Ivoire lock horns on Friday at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola in a Group G tussle.
Already qualified Coted’Ivoire tops the group on nine points with Zambia lying second on seven points while Sierra Leone are third on five points.
Chad lies at the tail-end with three points and had their chances wiped out with a 1-1 draw with Sierra Leone.
Top two teams in Group G will qualify to the Morocco 2025 AFCON.
By FAZ Media
