CHAN: Avram Grant assures Zambia have recovered to face Angola

Zambia national team head coach Avram Grant says his team is drawing parallels from great nations that have lost opening matches before but went on to win trophies.

The former Chelsea coach believes it was important how the players reacted to the loss on Thursday to DR Congo and intimated that the Chipolopolo had picked themselves ahead of their CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) against Angola on Sunday.

The Chipolopolo boss reminisced on his time with Ghana in 2015 when his side lost the opening match but went on to reach the final of the Africa Cup of Nations. “Not everything in football goes like you want, but the most important is to recover, but also when you win, do not think that you know everything, stay humble,” he told reporters.

“I said to the players in Ghana before which I say to the players in Zambia now, nothing will finish in the first game, teams can win the first game and lose.

“In 2010, Spain lost the game in the World Cup to Switzerland and won the cup. It happens in football but this group (Ghana) recovered very well, we beat Algeria 1-0, beat South Africa 2-1 and went all the way to the final and the better team lost in the final and we lost in penalties, I have a problem with penalties.”

Grant further said he was happy with the way the players have been shaken up after the 2-0 loss in the opening Group A fixture against DR Congo.

“We said to the players before that nothing will be decided after the first game, even if we win or we lose. We showed them examples, our players are ready and know that it is part of the game, the most important is how they react and so far it is looking good,” he said.

“We had a training yesterday, the key word in football is next. Our target for this tournament is the same; I like this tournament because it gives the opportunity to the African (local) players to show themselves.”

He said that Angola is a good side, but the Chipolopolo had punched holes in their weaknesses. “Angola is a very quality team, I saw their two games, even against Morocco they did so well. They have a variety of options to play forward, we need to be aware for this but also, they have some weaknesses that we need to exploit,” he concluded.

Zambia will meet an Angola side equally desperate for a win after losing and drawing in their first two matches.