By NDINAWE SIMPELWE in Marrakech Morocco – COACH Wedson Nyirenda says Zambia will be under

.Chipolopolo

pressure to maintain the tone it has set when they face a wounded Ivory Coast, a game the Chipolopolo need to win to progress to the quarterfinals of the ongoing Morocco 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament.
This second Group B match to be played at the Grande Stade de Marrakech kicks off at 18:30 hours and sees Zambia needing a win to progress to the last eight.
But Nyirenda’s side come up against an Ivory Coast side that is on the brink of elimination should they lose having already tumbled late in added time to Namibia in the opening match.
Nyirenda said at the pre-match briefing that facing Ivory Coast in such a situation is dangerous and has added more pressure on his team.
“It’s not going to be easy. Ivory Coast is a big team. Secondly, it is a team that is wounded after been beaten by Namibia. They also need to prove that they can do something. Then we have set the tone in the group, we are leading the group because of the three goals we scored, therefore applying a lot of pressure on ourselves,” Nyirenda said.
He said while Zambia will need to fight complacency, Ivory Coast will be eager to restore their slim chances of making it to the next round.
Nyirenda confirmed that the team has a few minor knocks in Alex Ng’onga and Godfrey Ngwenya but there is plan B if both fail to recover fully for the game.
Chipolopolo captain Ziyo Tembo said victory is certain if the players apply themselves and concentrate fully.
“We are not going take anything away from Ivory Coast, they are a good side. We just have to go with the right attitude and commitment,” Ziyo said.
Ivory Coast coach Ibrahim Kamara said his side suffered the consequences of being labelled the favourites in the group.
“At this stage public opinion does not matter anymore. Everyone believed we were the big team in the group but we saw what happened. Zambia is big footballing nation and they are in good form which means this game will not be easy,” Kamara said.
Meanwhile, the two sides renew their rivalry with Chipolopolo boasting of a superior head-to-head record on their opponents.
Apart from going into this match wounded, Ivory Coast will be out for revenge for the numerous defeats they have suffered at the hand of the Chipolopolo.
The teams’ only meeting at the CHAN goes back to 2009 when Ivory Coast hosted the tournament but lost 3-0 at the hands of a Given Singuluma hat trick.
The Elephants most painful defeat however came in 2012 when they lost on post-match penalties in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Nyirenda may be forced to rest Alex Ng’onga if the striker does not recover and replace him with Friday Samu to partner Lazarous Kambole and the coach will need to find a solution for the creative midfield role which was missing in the game against Uganda and Larry Bwalya can be the solution.
Tembo continues in the central defence role with Adrian Chama and Fackson Kapumbu and Simon Silwimba will the left and right back respectively.
Augustine Mulenga and Ernest Mbewe may take up the roles in the wings with Donashano Malama and Kondwani Mtonga deployed in the midfield.
Zambia tops the group on three points thanks to a superior goal difference on second placed Namibia, who have the same points, with Ivory Coast in third while Uganda is rock bottom.