Zambia coach Renard shrugs off side’s lack of form
AFRICAN champions Zambia are heading toward the 2013 Cup of Nations with a streak of four winless matches after a 0-0 midweek draw with Morocco at the Rand Stadium in a tournament warm-up.
Despite dominating possession Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets) wasted several chances and when Mukuka Mulenga unleashed a powerful shot eight minutes from time, goalkeeper Nadir Lamyaghri deflected it on to the woodwork and the ball was cleared.
In the 72nd minute Joseph Musonda’s kick from the left went just wide, bringing the small but vocal group of supporters to their feet in disappointed excitement.
Though short of a win, the result came as a relief to France-born coach Herve Renard, who has come under media fire after friendly losses in Saudi Arabia and Tanzania last month, and to Angola last Saturday.
“Doing the preparations, we can see the players are not 100 percent yet,” he said post-match.
“It’s normal,” he said of what he called a training match.
“We’ll do our best. We’re not Ivory Coast, we’re not Ghana. Why do you think we come to the Cup? To drop out in the first round?
“We are better than three days ago and we will be better in three days,” he added.
Zambia, who upset Ivory Coast in the 2012 African Cup of Nations final, also did poorly in pre-tournament friendlies last year. – SapaAFP