Avram Grant wants to take Zambia back to African summit

Fresh from two wins over Lesotho, Zambia national team coach Avram Grant has revealed his targets as he looks to lead the team back to the top.

After missing three consecutive African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments, Zambians are edging closer to the 2023 edition in Cote d’Ivoire next year.

This comes as Chipolopolo sits at number two in Group H of the qualifiers with nine points – Grant believes that his experience on the African continent will be crucial in this project. 

The former Ghana manager, was on the bench for the first time for Chipolopolo when they beat Lesotho 3-1 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Thursday. 

Having guided the Black Stars to the semi-finals of the AFCON in 2015, the Israeli’s main goal is to get the former African champions back to the top.

“When I was in Ghana, we did well. We lost in the semi-finals in penalties and now it’s a big challenge in Zambia,” he told SABC.

“People love football and I think it’s an opportunity for this country to promote football itself because it’s a very nice country with very nice people. In football, we have a vision to put Zambia in a better place than it is now. The long-term target is to qualify for the World Cup but the short-term target is to qualify for the Afcon by winning the game today.”

The Southern Africans faced the Likoena from Lesotho at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday and managed to secure a comfortable 2-0 win.

Additionally, the former Chelsea boss in the English Premier League says these types of matches are always tricky.

The Israeli-born coach also believes that South Africa-based Roderick Kabwe has earned his place in the national team and is a great player.

“I don’t want to speak about players personally, for me they are all my sons. All of them are equal and I have no doubt that he’s a good player with a good personality and I like him.”

Main Image: Avram Grant/Twitter

The post Avram Grant wants to take Zambia back to African summit appeared first on Entertainment SA - South African Entertainment News, Celebrity and Lifestyle Online Magazine & Entertainment.