By Mubukwanu Kaingu
Avram Grant says it is now in their hands tonight at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola now that visitors Ivory Coast have qualified.
Chipolopolo hunts for an outright win today in their penultimate Group G fixture to join their guest Ivory Coast at the Morocco 2025 AFCON.
AFCON champions Ivory Coast head into Friday evening’s game already qualified barely two hours after they arrived in Ndola on Wednesday night.
Wednesday’s 1-1 draw between hosts Chad and Sierra Leone in Abidjan sees The Elephants through with two games to spare before the start of the first half at Levy against Chipolopolo.
Ivory Coast has 9 points, Zambia has 7 points while Sierra Leone has 5 points ahead of their final Group G date at home against Zambia on November 19 in Monrovia, Liberia.
That scenario has set Chipolopolo with one object: beat Ivory Coast and the race to Morocco will come to a logical conclusion at full-time this evening.
“It is a fact that Ivory Coast have qualified already so they are more relaxed,” Grant said.
“In any case, we know that they are a very good team but we have to concentrate on what we have to do to pick a result.
“So far results show it depends on us because in any case, it could go to the last game.”
But Grant is still limping with an injury list that has seen recalled midfielder Joshua Mutale ruled out after sustaining a knock in training in Ndola.
Mutale joins Lameck Banda, Miguel Chaiwa, Kingsley Mutwanda, captain Lubambo Musonda and long-term absentee Patson Daka on Chipolopolo’s casualty list.
But goalkeeper Lawrence Mulenga is back after healing from a facial injury sustained on October 11 in the scoreless home draw against Chad at Levy.
Defender Stopilla Sunzu is also back after missing the October doubleheader against Chad easing backline depth in an age of an unprecedented injury list for Chipolopolo.
Striker Kennedy Musonda who is Chipolopolo’s leading scorer in Group G with 2 goals will lead the attack.
Gift Mphande is likely to slot into Lameck Banda’s position after impressing against Chad in October.
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae insists that the team is still motivated despite securing qualification with two games to spare.
“Nothing has changed. Yes, we have qualified but the objective and player’s focus is the same. We still want to win this group and get maximum points,” said Fae.
