Renard believes in Zambia power

Zambia’s Chipolopolo Coach Herve Renard expects his team to do better in the final round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Monday, November 10, 2008
Chipolopolo coach Herve Renard

Zambia’s Chipolopolo Coach Herve Renard expects his team to do better in the final round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Speaking to Fifa.com last month, Renard said that he is keen on making a mark in a Group C that also includes African champions Egypt, their northern rivals Algeria and Rwanda.

The Zambians qualified for the final round by finishing above Togo in the previous round and will need an unlikely first-place finish to reach their first FIFA World Cup.

They must finish among the top three to reach the 2010 CAF African Cup of Nations finals in Angola.

"In football, nothing is impossible,” added Renard, a former assistant coach for Ghana who lined up for AS Cannes in his playing days. "We have the same chance as Algeria and Rwanda and even Egypt.

Zambia have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup finals, but twice finished runners-up in the Continental showpiece and were one qualification point away from reaching USA 1994.

The side will open with a tough away test in Cairo against the reigning regional champions on 28 March 2009, before two consecutive home games against Rwanda and Algeria.

Zambia hosts Rwanda on June 06, 2009 and the Chipolopolos visit Kigali on November 4 for the last fixture of the qualifying campaign.

Ends