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Renard Insists Zambia Will Qualify

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Herve Renard believes Zambia are still on track to reach the 2013 Africa Cup quarterfinals.

Zambia escaped with a late and soft penalty to finish 1-1 against Nigeria to keep their precarious hopes of retaining the title alive.

“I am happy with the result never forget we have Nigeria the Super Eagles in front of us and they did not lose any game in 2012,” Renard said who had vowed to mete-out revenge on the Super Eagles in the build up to this game.

“And they continue the same way that means we are still alive and we are still in a good way to get qualification for the both teams.”

Zambia, on two points, must beat Group C leaders Burkina Faso who have four points regardless of the result in Nigeria’s final game against Ethiopia up in Rustenburg on January 29.

Nigeria too have two points after today’s draw against Renard’s side.

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86 COMMENTS

  1. HR donot play katongo he´s off form,,, maybe we will. This is a tight one, lucky that ref was paid the story would have been different

    • the problems is Many pipo have put their money on Chisamba Lungu! that costed as in the Ethiopian game and the Nigerian on! next match he should not start Katongo and chisamba! Sa kuwaha Played well ! MUKUKA Mulenga and mbesuma did have enough time to prove them selves
      No matter what ! am still proud of My chipolopolo boy!!

    • 1.1 I was dissappointed on Mbesuma’s weak shot inside the box.. Problem is that they are wasteful infront of the goal.. why hard shots when the goal mouth is just few metres away? Long range shootings always go begging 🙁 The failure to defeat 10men Ethiopian was a big mistake

  2. Good job Zambia, so far, because you are picking points along the way. Keep the faith. Coach, in your next march, start with the team you had at the end of the Nigeria game. Bukinafaso have tall and big bodies, Zambia’s team that completed the game today would do very well against the Bukinabes. You might want to bring in HH in the starting 11 though because of his hieght and big body advantages. Then use Lungu, Christopher, and Isaac as supper subs. If you do this, you will have no regrets whatsoever.
    Also use these games to start picking your starting 11 for 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
    All the best. Go Renard, go Chipolopolo, go Zambia!!!

    • @ Tubulu ,you have taken the words out of my mouth.Deco and Saku shuld star in the last match…a must so to speak.We need a nothing less than victory .Bola panshi mwematafe!!

  3. Zed shud not qualify in this wasteful game.We shud be qualifying in stuff like getting rid of cholera,improving sanitation and getting rid of our ancient & inhuman classrooms.Focus on what really matters amazambians.Hii ujinga ya soka ni mbaya sana afadhali zambia washindwe na Burkina Faso.

    • Iwe i can understand that Tanzania (sorry but let me say this) hasnt left any mark on african football, which has made you so BITTER! why dont you leave us alone to celebrate that which is part of us? Go back in time, you will find how crazy we Zambians are about football, it doesnt matter men, women boys girls, we eat football, drink football, anything to do with chipolopolo, we are crazy, i mean damn crazy, my advice to you is, “Go hung yourself”! Taratibu kaka au vipi?

    • Iwe # 3.2 Sana who is Tanzanian? I was born and raised in Nakonde and we ain’t mad about useless football in Nakonde.Sisi kwetu tunapenda elimu,maendeleo na common sense.Sio kila mzambia ana wazimu wa soka.Zambia ikishindwa nitafurahi ili tuweke makini kwa maendeleo.

  4. hop next march the commentators ll mot be those two useless opininated *****s full of skilless english premier league blood in their a.s.s.e.s. Surely were those two commentators for zambia/nigeria match watching the same game as the rest of the world? Nigeria with all their epl players were very much below par compared to the zambians.
    The epl football is for domestic and commercial purposes not international football as those two useless commentators tried to put across thats why england cannot win world/euro cup.

    • Does it have to take a foreigner to tell you that you were awful?
      The Euro-sport co-commenter happen to be a former professional footballer with 19 International caps. When you are called Continental Champions you should just put up a performance worthy of champions not that schoolboy performance we witnessed last evening.
      If you are unhappy with that internet link there are countless other live streaming links for you to try the are some Arabic or the French links if it helps….

    • I think Jay Jay you are also another useless chap.Can you call that a “schoolboy performance” ? boy you have issues.

    • Taking issues with commentators solves nothing, just hope your team plays better and not unnecessarily lose possession of the ball and failing to score at close range.

  5. Zambians don’t be demoralised. Qualification still remains in our hands. We don’t have to wish for any other team to help us lIke those uninformed Supersport presenters put it. I wonder why they hire them if they dont know how to analyse. I can do a much better Job. We just need to win the next Game regardless of any other results in the group.

    • Re-look at the games played so far this time around and compare them to the matches
      that were played last year building up to the finals and eventually winning the finals.
      A simple analysis of our currently performance in the games played will show you that something is not right…
      Look at our Captain…
      Ifipolopolo are a good side but the championship may not be ours. Don’t raise my hopes.

  7. Renard did not listen when I asked him to make the line up with a 4-2-2-4-1 formation, Oh my goodness did I just blunder again after being corrected by some more smarter people within the Zambian Enterprise? By the way the correct formation was supposed to be 4-2-4 and guess what, that was the final formation after substituting the Captain (Katongo) and other lad (Chishimba).

    The coach brought in Mbesuma, and Mukuka and reinforced fire power, the system changed … we remained with two middle fielders and dropped to four at the back. The entire thing became a different ball game and before they could know it, the Nigerian defense was in shambles.

    Mbesuma almost scored twice, Mayuka had new found strength and Sunzu had more support at the back, we drew. Start the next game 4-2-4!!

    • My God! 4 2 4? No midfield! No wonder the back four were hoofing the ball back to the front 4 and losing it because the midfield was depleted. The best system looking at the resources Zambia has is a 4 5 1 formation. This ensures defensive solidity as you are able to nulify the opposition in the centre of the pack since you have more bodies in the middle. The lone strike, Mayuka should hassle and fight upfront. The middle fielders should also be able to quickly switch from a defensive mode to an attack one in support of Mayuka. This way your ‘Enterprise’ will be able to prosper!

  8. First you called friendlies unimportant and stated that the team was saving its best for the tournament; now you are at AFCON you’re still making lame excuses. When foreign pundits criticises the team as usual the blind fans will retreat in their usual defensive shell and question the background of the commenter. Do you have any idea what it entails to be called Continental Champions to an outsider? So far Zambia has not won a single match in its past five games; this is appalling and not worthy of being called champions so far. Just win your bloody games…
    Wake up!

    • Do you think a team can win the tournament by luck? Zambia played well last year that is why they won. The attack was very sharp and outplayed Ivory Coast in the finals. This time the attack is not very sharp. It is that simple. That should be your criticism. Do you think Zambia won the cup last year by luck? Then you don’t know anything about soccer. Today Zambia played better than Nigeria and had more chances? They had more ball possession against Ethiopia. Yes, the attack is not very sharp and good this time. They are playing good football but without scoring. Did you watch the world cup in 2002 when France failed to progress to the next round in 2002 after they previously won the competition in 1998?

    • Please STOP NOW with the oxymoron statements and lame excuses its skin cringeing. Why then did not you practice what have you been doing the last 12 months eh? Touring with the cup to all 2000 newly created districts….if you’re not clinical in front of goal you do not deserve to be at the tournament period. Are still asleep you are still talking about chances yet no goal from open play…wake up this is a tournament not a friendly where you can go back and talk of chances created.
      Wake up!!

    • They won the cup last year. What did you win? if you believe scoring is important, why then don’t you accept it that they are the champions because they scored goals. Criticize them for how they playing this time and not for last year. Give credit credit where credit is due. They won the cup and are the champions period. Whether you like or not they are the 2012 Afcon champions. Until 2013 Afcon is crowned they are still the reigning champions. It seems you not a Zambia. I wonder what you are doing on this website. By the way where are you from?

    • Here we go again…now you’re questioning my patriotism!lol where have you been the past 12 months on LT? Forget about the past and smell the coffee you’re at the tournament now..THE PAST IS FOR ARCHIVES.
      WAKE UP!!

    • Jay Jay, did you just say “no goal in open play”? I guess you didn’t see the Mbesuma Goal. Anyway i will take that as your opinion.

  9. renard tais-toi!! anyway if all the playas cud play with half the conviction of mweene ..we can go far!they need to play as a team..cohesive and more attacks please..bola ma goals banee

  10. Not Possible to qualify,Zambia already put themselves in an akward position by drwaing their first game against Ethiopia .

  11. Ok Chipolopolo you Have by now learnt your lesson: in the next games Chipolopolo is the team: The team must win The team must win The team must win The team must win The team must win The team must win The team must win The team must win The team must win The team must win The team must win The team must win The team must win The team must win The team must win The team must win

  12. Next match no more conceding unnecessary penulties….all the goals we have conceded are the result of “umwenso kunuma” , steady guys!

  13. Even at the group stage in 2012 Zambia struggled but qualified. The 2 teams that will qualify are 1 Zambia 2 I don’t care

  14. It’s easier to win a championship than to remain a champion. In last year’s tournament, Zambia competed as an under-dog. That helped them in a great way. This year, they are competing as the reigning champions. That is a totally different ball game altogether. Who has not seen how the team has been performing since winning the championship? And who didn’t see how Ethiopia almost snuffed life out of Zambia; the very same Ethiopian team that lost by 4 goals to Burkina Faso! Consequently, this year’s Zambian team is probably just as good, or may be better than last year’s. What has changed is only the fact that they are no longer playing as under-dogs but as champions relative to last year. Welcome to the top!

    • Mei Matunge@14 u are spot on, you understand soccer my dear, I believe ichipolopolo is actually better this year but the attitude of the opposing teams is stronger and they are learning it a hard way to reacting to the tag of ‘champions’. some champions never last because they give up the fight and disband their on their first disappointment: Argentina 1978 struggled through opposition to 1986 to establish a championship team, France 2002 with a better team disbanded soon after a minor set back, Senegal after 2002 world cup gave up the fight to mature into ‘big boys’ this time around utupolopolo should insist against all opposition that they are the real champions.

    • This is exactly what same of us had been saying 6-7 months ago and I remember Denis Lota stating this fact in December last year when I agreed with him I was vilified by the selfsame fans who are now waking up to this simple FACT.

    • Mei: Spot on. Everybody wants to beat the Champions. Its as simple as that. For example in the Premier League: Swansea beats Manchester United and losses to QPR. It simply does not make sense. But because some one wants to beat the champion the pace changes. Zambia has to quickly realize that there are Champions and everybody around wants to beat them. Its really difficult. Egypt tried beyond expectations when they defended the trophy 3 times. Oh where is Egypt now?????

    • Thanks to the team. But the game with BK is tough. Bk was physical in their last game which they won 4:0 against Ethopia. Hence, if ZM is ti to beat Bk come Tuesday come and play a cool atacking football., keep closing from behind to twart their fast running forwards. or else you will be embarassed/disappointed.Dont let our hard working goalkeeper Mweene to come and do your job most of the time or else you will weak him.Its our humble prayer that you come and play as a team. The whole Nation is with you Boys. Thanks. Wisdom

  15. The team played well without panicking. It showed maturity and experience. There were few mistakes. They managed to contain their opponents. We just need to play a more challenging team. Remember, the pressure is on the opponents to beat us and get the cup. Non has managed, lets focus on one match at a time, till we get to the top. Bukina Fasso plays well and fast, but they can easily be stabilized.

  17. Champions will always b champions. We will scrap thru by hook or crook then we will start cruising their after! Just watch how we will find ourselves defending the championship

  20. We ll qualify and we in same situation with Nigeria, Ethiopia Wollongong regroup and give them a fight. Pressure is on Burkina Fasso to maintain their top slot. We ll beat them and can even top the group with Nigeria second. Forget Mamaddou Gaye and his hatred for Zambia!!!

  21. Renard please use this line up against TALL Buknabees in the final leg.

    1.Mweene (God given)
    2.Kasonde
    3.Mbola
    4.Musonda
    5.Sunzu
    6.Chansa
    7.Sakuwaha _(mukuka later as sub)
    8.William njovu
    9.Mayuka
    10.Chamanga (Mbesuma later as sub)
    11.Kalaba – (FELIX as sub later)

    I saw this line up in my dream and Zambia won 2-0 Please renard dont play chris katongo for now, i beg you.

  23. Please people dnt undrit chipolopolo bad starting nd great ending thy wl come wth cup.once yours always yours.Zambia 2 vs 0 bukinafaso
    GO chipolopolo Go

    • The penalties we are surviving are true indications that the Almighty God is on our side and we are going far in this tournament.

  27. Interesting Analyses. Most interesting being that the guys are facing stronger opposition attitude now that they carry the champions tag. Otherwise same game as last year, if not better. All the best chipolopolo

    • Glad you are able to make sense out of this argument. Competing as the reigning champions in the Afcon 2013, Zambia are playing at a much higher altitude than they have ever been accustomed to. In a storm in the forest, it is not usually the small, but rather the big, tall trees that fall. And it’s not because the big, tall trees are weaker than the small ones that they fall, but rather, the big, tall trees fall inspite of their superior strength and that the storm that confronts them is all the more fiercer. It doesn’t create a big headline to beat Ethiopia 4:0 but it does create a huge headline to draw against Zambia. Hopefully, the likes of Jay Jay who seem to be intoxicated with negativism can also buy into this.

  28. That sandy pitch has taken the life out of our boys. We have conceded penalties in every game which is worrying statistic. Bukina faso seem to have rediscovered their form. Our challenge is to quash this as early as possible. Zambia can not longer afford to waste any more chances. We need a convincing win in the next game. come on Zambia we know what you are capable of doing. Chipolopolo all the way!!!

  29. jay jay just tell us what you to say,hiding your frustration ,anger and bitterness in football wont solve the problem. Your real issues are the political unfolding which took place in 2011 hence your anger.

    • I don’t agree with you. Some people are just frustrated all the time with everything. They should see a shrink b4 it all goes higodi pigodi

    • Bitter, Frustrated, hater…
      Remove these “lazy” words from a Zambian’s vocabulary..and that will be the day when they will debate objectively and articulately.

  30. I’m loving the entire positive mindedness from the soccer fans here. Guys secret of success in life. Is never never have a faint heart in your quest to success. Never loss hope neither should you give up when you are faced with attack. Life is about taking on the struggles & not having things that easy. Same applies to our Chipolopolo boys, they have refused to give up & they have shown character. Do you agree with me? Do you check out on Mweene when his on the field of play.We refuse to die now till the last drop of our blood, till the finals & bring the cup which belongs to Zambia. We the Champs. Let’s believe in the solders we have sent on the battle front. Love you all- the Chipolopolo boys

  31. You Zambians amaze me. This unnecessary hope and belief you continue to have even when its clear that the team lacks good strikers is pathetic. Football is about scoring goals an Zambia rarely scores. Do not give yourselves too much hope least you die of depression. Zambia is out…insult me all you can but you will agree with me on Tuesday.

    • That’s blind sleepy Zed fans for you…they never take friendlies seriously; they never mobilise the full squad on FIFA sanctioned dates; they never take the FIFA ranking table seriously hence don’t organise proper opposition. FAZ crooks and its blind fans are likened to a lethargic pupil who sniggers at his fellow pupils in class at prep time period then hastily wants to study the whole syllabus 30 mins from a final exam and also hopes god will help him.
      Zambia can still go through IF they win against Burkina Fuso convincingly….teams like RSA only took one game to recover and beat Angola who beat us in the friendly.

  32. Our players need to stop playing the “patter pass to me and i will pass to you” type of football and concentrate on trying to score.

  33. Jay Jay, I totally agree with you because you are objective unlike some die-hard fans that refuse to reason. Of course I would like Zambia to win and qualify but Bkf also knows whats at stake. All they need is a draw.
    They know that if Zambia beats them and Nigeria beats Ethiopia, they fail to make the next round. Prayer has to be backed with action and not domance. Hopefully they will wake up!

  36. The people have spoken, it’s clear that our winning combination should have:
    KALABA ON THE LEFT WING, SAKUWAHA ON THE RIGHT WING, MBESUMA AND MAYUKA IN CENTRAL ATTACK, MUKUKA MULENGA AND CHISAMBA LUNGU IN ATTACKING MIDFIELD, SINKALA AS DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER, SUNZU, MBOLA AND NKAUSU IN DEFENCE. AND NATUARALLY; MWEENE IN GOAL!!

  38. Iwe HR play 4 2 3 1 if you want to win.

    Mayuka

    Kalaba Chamanga Sakuwaha

    Mukuka Nathan

    Mbola Sunzu Nkausu Musonda

  39. When Mbesuma lost form, he was benched for almost the entire AFCON 2012 Edition that we eventually won. He then went back to the drawing board, upped his game and has come back with a bang. Why can’t the same happen to Chris Katongo who is our biggest liability in this campaign?

  40. Regardless of the negative comments from the so called soccer analysts who are one sided who are always talking nonsense when it comes to our mighty chipolopolo who are without doubt been progressing with each game, and so am happy with that regardless of the outcome and we are going to beat the next team we are facing, go Chipolopolo

  41. Let’s get this right; the weak short by Mbesuma was because the ball went to his right foot which he doesnt use. That is why the short was week. However, he had enough time to put it on the left foot, but………..

  43. it will be a difficult game,i miss goal getter mutale.We seriously need to find a scoring formule in the next game.God help us

  44. Nice observations and analysis from some positive pipo unlike others who just supports or criticize with no reasons. Facts and observations (1)we knw realistically Burkina Faso will be playing defensive football and catch us on counter if we are not careful (2)Chipolopolo will be playing much attacking game but cautious and they will want to score atleast early enough to avoid more panicking (3)Advise :to Technical staff this time l think they should start with strikers Mbesuma,Mayuka , Sakhuwa and later on introduce Mukuka and lastly Jacob to seal the victory home.Chisamba maybe a good player but he has costed us (4)Fact :Bukina Faso has never beaten zambia on this stage in AFCON.Gud luck chipolopolo Go Zambia Go and lets show them our championship status…..iye chipolopolo..iye chipolo

  45. WELL KNOW THAT BURKINA FASO are also not sleeping, they have watched our style of football. Big mess was on the Ethiopian game. We became complacent removing defenders for stupid strikers who did not want to pass the ball. Everyone wants to score?? Rubbish!!!!! We would have been home and very solid dry??? Zambian approach is about Draws so watch out as Nigeria will win and we get a draw?? Look at Ivory Coast?? They are playing as real champions. Aggressive, hungry for goals and really pushing hard.

  46. I’ve recently started a website, the info you offer on this site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work. “The inner fire is the most important thing mankind possesses.” by Edith Sodergran.

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