Monday, March 17, 2025

Renard Defiant As Burkina Faso Looms

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Herve Renard says Zambia will prove the skeptics back home wrong on Tuesday against Group C leaders Burkina Faso at Mbombela Stadium.

And defender Joseph Musonda and Stopilla Sunzu are back in training after they were rested for Saturday’s practice.

“Go to the streets and ask the people what they are thinking they know football maybe better than me and you,” Renard said at the end of Sundays practice at Zambia’s training base at Ka Nyamazane Stadium in Nelspruit.

“I have only one thing to tell you in eight games we have not lost at the Africa Cup that means we have to win the next one, then we will qualify.”

Zambia must beat Burkina Faso on Tuesday to advance to the Africa cup quarterfinals on February 3.

Zambia has failed to produce a win at the Africa Cup in the South Africa drawing their last two games.

This is despite pre-tournament reassurances from Renard that the team will be ready by January 21 for the tournament.

Burkina Faso lead Group C on four points, Zambia and Nigeria are level on two points while Ethiopia are bottom on one point.

Meanwhile, Sunzu and Musonda took full part in Sundays practice after sitting out Saturday’s session.

Sunzu sustained a knee injury while Musonda had a sore hip.

53 COMMENTS

  1. It is good to hear the couch’s positive remarks about the upcoming game. Chipolopolo has no option but to win; or else they will be out. Best wishes.

  2. Iwe renard if u want to keep yo job, we must win our next game.in business it’s not wise to keep a loss making item, so b ready to pack yo bags if u can bring smiles to our faces.next

    • Fire who! Reinard has done a lot for Zambia.My friend he football landscape in Africa has changed.Ask Cameroun and Egypt.Who thought Cape Verd on first attempt could make it to the quarter finals.Win or lose we must support our team.

    • Zambia must beat Burkina Faso on Tuesday to advance to the Africa cup quarterfinals on February 3.

      Burkina Faso lead Group C on four points, Zambia and Nigeria are level on two points while Ethiopia are bottom on one point.

      If Zambia and Nigeria win their last games the two teams go through with five points each. I hope that was helpful

  3. zambians learn to be patient and logical in your analysis. At least zambia plays more skillfull and better football than the fluffers from the english premier league you watch week in week out. Herve renard has brought pride to zambia than any pretender before. Why all this talk about christopher katongo, i can sense jealous coz he won bbc player of the yr. Most of the highly rated epl players ve failed to perform so whats the fuss about katongo.

  4. Long walk was intimidating, says Mweene

    NELSPRUIT – GOALKEEPER Kennedy Mweene says it was a nerve-wracking few moments as he stepped up to take the penalty that earned Zambia a 1-1 draw against Nigeria at Mbombela Stadium on Friday night.

    Mweene’s 85th minute goal cancelled out former FC Cape Town frontman Emmanuel Emenike’s 57th minute strike – and it was a fantastically well-taken spot-kick.

    He had earlier watched as John Mikel Obi’s first-half penalty eluded his outstretched fingers before glancing the post and going behind the goal-line.

    Many thought he had saved the spot-kick – a corner was awarded – but Mweene owned up to not having made the save.

    “To be honest with you I never touched the ball,” he said, before adding: “At my club I was always training with penalties…

  5. anything can happen..look at what cape verde just did..all odds were against them ..they were one goal down (never mind that it was an own goal) but they came back biting and managed a 2-1 win!!so chipolopolo..with determination,team work and a wining spirit..we can do it!!who are burkina faso?..we have shot down bigger teams (and been embarrassed by smaller ones)..lets win this!my football jersey purchase shud not be in vain mwe bantu..

    • Yes friend, well spoken I too want to wear my Chipolopolo new scarf on Monday with the newly purchased Zed jersey, may they not rot in my possession becoz of a let down, l have every hope that my copper bullets will carry the day. Nayo bola Zed bullets!

  6. Wow Mushota there are some lines you dont cross. I hope you get on your knees and pray for Zed to win maybe lamfras can take the curse off your back. I wouldnt underestimate that if i were you. Remember sports and religion, dont cross those lines, trust me…

  7. Ba LT, “adamant” would be a better word than “defiant” in your title to this article. Renard, we love you; keep the faith. Oh, one thing, please use Chris as a supper sub regardless of us being down or leading. His energy, resolution, and character will be of a great count in the final minutes of our pending game.

  8. South Africa and cape Verde in quarter finals. Morocco and Angola failed to hold on to their early leads. I was impressed by SA performance in last 15 minutes when they were down 2-1 and eventually equalized through Sangwane great strike. Hard lack Morocco and Angola next time. Come Tuesday all we need is to score goals and Zambia will qualify with a win to quarter final. Herve Renard maybe he should try Chamanga in 70 minutes sometimes benched strikers have luck to score in dying minutes like how Ivory coast striker scored yesterday with his first touch in dying minutes. go chipolopolo go””

  9. Reinhard is right, this is a tournament and not two games, we winning and top group on Tuesday!@ thumbs up Renhard!!!

  10. There is no doubt that HH is needed in that defense, Sunzu was overworked and it is clear that some of the pressure would have been relieved if HH was there. Please do not start with Katongo the next game, he needs deliverance. Burkinabe will be playing a defensive game and so it is logical to start with an offensive line up. The BF will play a defensive game, hoping to get a draw. I appeal to Kalu not to let HR make all the decisions on this one. We need to use the lesons that we have learnt in the past two games

  11. Saddle up boys. We have stallions to ride 🙂
    For the benefit of our northern brothers – Nous avons des étalons à monter. Verrouiller et charger. Lock and load.

  12. Pray that zambia lose to artful Burkinabes and chipololos get elimanated.Visit mtendere,Msisi or mandevu and see how horrible life is.Truly zambians have no business in soccer when they have so many slums to work on ,so many schools to fix and so much poverty to crash.Hawa wajinga na wazembe wa zambia washindwe ndio tuweze kuweka makini kwa kuimarisha maisha na kuondoa umaskini zambia.Amen.

    • And how many of those little kids knock around home made footballs figuring there is hope? They will pray a different prayer from you because for that one moment, life is not so horrible. The kingdom is theirs. Will you cancel out their prayers?

      If it’s any consolation those charged with the duty to fix Zambia are not football players but probably fans. Win or lose life goes on and they have a big job to do.

      I pray every kid finds solace in sport, artistic and cultural pursuits and holds their head up through life no matter how horrible it was coming up. We just need positive interaction to encourage others to participate in making a change and that’s where athletes, artists etc are effective.

      “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called Today…”…

  13. Mushota or whatever you may be called, its bad to be criticized to the extent that you are even wished to demise… we are all bitter about your comment because we are proud Zambians,we win or lose we don’t mind after all we still addressed as champions…you apologize b4 we talk more about you.

  14. What if Zambia draws with Burkina Faso and also Nigeria draws with Ethiopia the same score. Who goes through too the quarterfinals between Zambia and Nigeria?

  15. I cant say much coz Renard’s problem is that he cant put up the best Zambian team each time we play.I will hold my fire until tuesday.If we lose he must just resign.GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.

  16. Renard try this line up: 1.Mweene 2. Nkausu 3.Musonda(Mbola) 4.Himoonde 5.Nsunzu 6.Sinkala (Chisamba) 7.Mulenga(Chansa) J 8.Kalaba 9.Mayuka(Katongo) 10.Mbesuma(Mukuka) 11. Sakuwaha. Wingers are very important!

  17. If Zambia Qualifies I will be happy if they lose I will still be having my cereals and becon for breakfast. I think they are playing very good soccer and lack may not be on their side this time around…but they remain my number 1 then Chelsea.

  18. Plz leave Renard alone, if u r not proud 2b zambian then mek plan B, u know wa i mean. Sanatipeze apa petilili manje awe, hes the rson y zambia is put on the world map. Nili na hope ati tiwina. Tatwaba lazy

  19. Tatwaba lazy zo ona we are definately qualifying. To those that are still doubting be encouraged that we are champions.Mind u Drogba and many of his team mates have never felt the experience of winning Africa cup,while tu bena Kalaba,chisamba,Sunzu utwaiche twalyumfwapo ifyo chumfwika!!!! Chipolopolooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo iyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

  20. Chipolopolo should ask kalusha about the formula they used when they beat Burkina Faso 5 – 1 in south africa Afcon 1996.History will repeat it self this time by 3 goals to 1.

  21. NO 26 DCH you are very right the coach must have tried this line up from the beginning , i have a problem when he plays chisamba in defence, you may recall the previous tournament a goal came from his side , even during this same tournament two goals we allowed come from his side including a penalty luckily it was saved . a good coach must play the game and not names how do you substitute with three minutes to go when you are down you only do that when you are reading and buying time tactic must apply.

  22. I pray to have a worrying free night tomorrow,may Zambia prove her die hard critics wrong,noone appreciates Zambia’s achievements not even those we so dearly and risked our lives for in the liberation struggle!Fellow indeginous patriotic Zambians let’s support our football team,noone will do for US,if I may ask who didn’t join in the celebrations when the team won,if they lose we have to support them and find the way forward,afterall we also play a vital role as supporters!

    • And i pray that they get eliminated so we can get back to what really matters which is to focus on development.

  23. we are wining today.The game might be tough but zambia is a good side,with the right combination of our players we will carry the day.lets be positive.

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