Afcon: Renard under pressure as Keshi plots Zambia’s fall

Herve Renard is feeling the pressure ahead of Friday’s crucial clash against Nigeria.

This follows Zambia’s stuttering 1-1 draw against Ethiopia  in their opening Group C match on January 21 at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Renard refused to be engaged into discussing the scenario in Group C following Nigeria’s draw against Burkina Faso.  At the end of Zambia’s Tuesday morning training session at Ka Nyamazane Stadium,  less than 24 hours after his team was outclassed by 10-man Ethiopia.

Keshi and Renard

“You want us to talk,  no, we should not talk but we should talk on the pitch,” Renard said.

“People in Zambia talk a lot and one day you will see when we will be out.”

Renard said it was the same thing at the 2010 tournament in Angola when Zambia drew 1-1 against Tunisia in their opening Group D match before qualifying to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1996.  “They said the same when I left the first time, you know, that they say you have to change this one, bring this one and you can change everything,” Renard said.

“You want to talk about Nigeria? The press conference was yesterday.”

Group C is tight with all four teams tied on one point each after the Super Eagles also drew 1-1 against Burkina Faso at Mbombela.

Meanwhile, Zambia looked in good spirits at Tuesday’s training like nothing eventful happened on Monday night across town at Mbombela.

Eight players minus Chisamba Lungu who started and finished the match had a separate 40 minute light workout while the rest underwent the full two hour practice session at Ka Nyamazane.

After a thorough review of Eagles match against Burkina Faso, Nigeria’s coach, Stephen Keshi would make changes in tactics and in his selection for the match against Zamibia.

It is a plot that he hopes will win him the match if the players implement even 70 per cent of his strategy.Renard said it was the same thing at the 2010 tournament in Angola when Zambia drew 1-1 against Tunisia in their opening Group D match before qualifying to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1996.  “They said the same when I left the first time, you know, that they say you have to change this one, bring this one and you can change everything,” Renard said.

“You want to talk about Nigeria? The press conference was yesterday.”

Group C is tight with all four teams tied on one point each after the Super Eagles also drew 1-1 against Burkina Faso at Mbombela.

Meanwhile, Zambia looked in good spirits at Tuesday’s training like nothing eventful happened on Monday night across town at Mbombela.

Eight players minus Chisamba Lungu who started and finished the match had a separate 40 minute light workout while the rest underwent the full two hour practice session at Ka Nyamazane.

After a thorough review of Eagles match against Burkina Faso, Nigeria’s coach, Stephen Keshi would make changes in tactics and in his selection for the match against Zamibia.

It is a plot that he hopes will win him the match if the players implement even 70 per cent of his strategy.