Wed, 24 Jan 2018 12:06:21 +0000
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
ZAMBIA national soccer team coach Wedson Nyirenda says his squad is determined to win the Championship of African Nation tournament despite having been held to a 1-all draw by Southern African neighbours Namibia in the final group B fixture played on Monday evening at Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca.
Speaking in a post-match interview, Nyirenda said that his team’s target is to win the tournament which features players who play in their domestic leagues.
Nyirenda has reaffirmed his team’s commitment to progress to the semi-finals as Zambia meets Sudan in Saturday’s quarter-final fixture to be played in Marrakech.
The Chipolopolo head coach noted that the game against Sudan is not going to be easy because Sudan has also a good squad.
“We came into this tournament with the aim of winning this cup. We may go through some obstacles here and there but that is the name of football. We are getting somewhere,” he said.
“We are going to meet Sudan in Marrakech, it is not going to be an easy game. Every game that we have played has not been easy. You saw the way Namibia was coming at us, it was not an easy game. I think my players underestimated Namibia and they surprised us by scoring first but we reacted and came with an equaliser through our young boy Lazarus,” Nyirenda said
“One thing I can say about the team is that they have shown a lot of character that they want to win despite all the difficulties that we are getting into at times,” he added.
The Chipolopolo boys topped group B with seven points on par with Namibia who beat Uganda and Ivory Coast 1-0 respectively in their first two fixtures at the CHAN tournament.
Nyirenda’s boys however have a superior goal difference and will meet group A runners up Sudan who held hosts and group A leaders Morocco to a goalless draw in their final group A fixture.
Namibia will now face Morocco in the first quarter final fixture to be played on Saturday in Marrakech with the winner progressing to meet Nigeria or Angola who are likely to square off in the fourth quarter final fixture.
Namibian coach Ricardo Manetti said he was not under pressure facing the home team who topped group A with seven points.
“Now that we know that we are playing Morocco, I do not think we should be under any pressure. The stadium is going to be packed. My players are going to enjoy the occasion.
“We are tired of playing in empty stadiums, we deserve playing in the quarter-finals and we deserve to play before a full stadium. I am looking forward to play Morocco on Saturday.” Manetti said.
