Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant has described Zambia’s final Group E FIFA World Cup qualifier against Niger as an important step in the team’s long-term process of growth and consistency.
Chipolopolo will host Niger at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Sunday.
Speaking during the pre-match press conference, Grant said the technical bench and players were fully focused on ending the campaign on a high and maintaining momentum ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON).
“We played a game against Tanzania, but we have one more game, and this is the last game also before the Africa [AfCON]. So we want also to win this game,” said Grant.
“Niger is a very good team; they are three points ahead of us. But if we win, we will be in second place. What is important for us is to show a good mentality, good football, and get the three points.”
And midfielder Emmanuel Banda called on fans to attend the match in numbers .
“I would like to invite the fans to come in numbers as they did in the last few days in Morocco. Despite the results, they were here from start to end, so we hope tomorrow they come in numbers as well and support us as we aim to get the three maximum points,” Banda said.
Meanwhile Niger assistant coach Zakariaou Ibrahim said his side are aiming for a win
“We have come to play a good game so that at the end of the day we would like to win, we cannot reveal the strategy so let’s see what happens tomorrow,” he said.
Zakariaou’s sentiments were backed by his captain Hassane Adamou.
The Chipolopolo host Niger tomorrow (Sunday) in a Group E FIFA World Cup qualifier with both sides hoping to end the campaign in second place.
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Zambia narrowly lost. Performance was average. Avram Grant should up his game for the AFCON