• BUDDIES….CHIPOLOPOLO coach, Honour Janza (right) with his former boss, Herve Renard, who is now in charge of Ivory Coast, at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
ZAMBIA’S Golden Jubilee celebrations get a tingly test at the new National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka today when the Chipolopolo take on an unlikely bed-mate in the form of Ivory Coast.
On a normal day, Ivory Coast would not be Zambia’s mate to share a table with especially on a day as special as celebrating 50 years of independence but a pair in the West African team’s camp makes the Elephants a welcome guest to this Uhuru toast.
Coach Hervé Renard and his assistant, Patrice Beaumelle are all but Zambians and will forever be remembered in this country for leading the national team to its first and only Africa Cup title triumph in 2012, which was against all odds.
Ironically, the winning of that Africa Cup in Gabon, where the entire Zambian team died 19 years earlier, came against the Ivory Coast side of megastars.
Zambia won continental championship via a 9-8 scoreline on post-match penalties following a 0-0 stalemate after 120 minutes.
Memories of that day are still freshly sweet in the Zambians and one the Ivorians’ would not want to remember especially that they missed a second half penalty.
So this meeting, coming more than two and half years later, is the first time these sides are facing each other.
Despite these two African football giants meeting in a friendly match meant to be part of Zambia’s independence celebrations, this fixture still remains a tough assignment with the repeat-or-revenge tag lacing the game.
That win in 2012 made sure that the Chipolopolo maintained its edge over the Elephants in the head-to-head record, giving Zambia three wins from the six meetings where two of those ended in draws with one victory for Ivory Coast.
But Zambia has the biggest win in the series, a 3-0 win at the 2009 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) finals.
Zambia’s only loss to Ivory is a painful memory as a dominant Zambia squad Efford Chabala, Derby Mankinka and Eston Mulenga among others was beaten and kicked out of the 1992 Africa Cup via an Olivier Sei free-kick which deflected in off John Soko’s boot in extra time.
Ivory Coast went on to win that Africa Cup, which remains their only title after defeating Ghana 11-10 on penalties.
There are so many emotions attached to this match and what more with the fact that Renard will be on the wrong side of the coaching bench.
Renard confesses it would be emotional to lead out a strategy to hurt the Chipolopolo, the situation he did when he left Zambia for the first time and headed to Angola though the game ended in a stalemate.
Once again, the Frenchman has had to come to Lusaka for an international friendly and it explains his wondering what Zambia has infected him with to want to come back so much.
Since the last meeting in 2012 with Ivory Coast, only defender Nyambe Mulenga featured in that final after coming on as a substitute for injured Joseph Musonda.
Mulenga should partner Chris Munthali, a tall imposing figure at the heart of Zambia’s defence, with adequate cover from the midfield expected from late under-17 call up Changwe Kalale, Larry Bwalya, Charles Zulu and Shaderick Malambo.
Coach Honour Janza, an assistant to Renard in 2012, could let Jonas Sakuwaha lead the lines upfront and also give fans favourite, Ronald “Sate-Sate’ Kampamba a start in this important game.
Ivory coach will look to Roger Asale, not new to Zambia and especially Nkana fans and N’guessan Bi Noel for the win with the midfield to be marshalled by Ibrahim Kone and Doubia Idrissa.
