FORMER Chipolopolo coach and Morocco assistant trainer Patrice Beaumelle says anything can happen in Group F of the 2023 AFCON in which Zambia and The Atlas Lions are preliminary stage opponents.
DR Congo and Tanzania complete Group F at the rescheduled 2023 AFCON that Cote d’Ivoire is hosting from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
Beaumelle said in an interview from his base in Algeria that he not only expects the top-two finishers but also one of the four best third-placed sides to come from Group F and advance to the last 16 of the competition.
The Frenchman, who first served as Herve Renard’s assistant before succeeding him as Chipolopolo coach in 2013, is currently managing Algerian league leaders and 1976 African club champions MC Alger who appointed him in March.
“This group is very tough in my opinion, anything can happen in this group,” Beaumelle said.
“I was at two AFCONs and one World Cup with The Atlas Lions Morocco and of course, this is one of the best teams actually after what they had done with their fantastic performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”
Morocco, whom Zambia will play in their last Group F fixture on January 24, is the favourites to top the pool following their exploits in Qatar last December where they reached the FIFA World Cup semifinals.
Beaumelle started his analysis of Group F by stating that Zambia’s opening Group F opponents on January 17, DR Congo, will be an interesting prospect.
“On DR Congo, Sebastien Desabre is doing well there, it is always a big nation with strong players they are also familiar to Tanzania and Zambia because they are all neighbours,” the Frenchman said.
“So every time you see DR Congo, they can go far because they have a big potential.”
1974 African champions DR Congo, who reached the last 16 in 2019, return to the AFCON after failing to qualify for the 2021 edition.
Beaumelle also gave a brief overview on Tanzania who will be playing Zambia at the AFCON for the first time when they meet in their penultimate Group F match on January 21.
“Tanzania with their Algerian coach (Adel Amrouche) they did a fantastic job in the qualifiers and it wasn’t a fluke,” Beaumelle said.
Meanwhile, Beaumelle said it was just befitting that elements of Zambia’s 2017 AFCON U20 winning team will finally have an opportunity to taste some senior AFCON experience.
“Of course, I am so happy for Zambia and it has been too long since Chipolopolo played at AFCON. If I am not mistaken, they haven’t qualified since 2015,” Beaumelle said.
“After they won AFCON U20 it is very good and normal to see this generation going to the AFCON with players like Patson Daka including other players that I know like Roderick Kabwe and Lubambo Musonda.
“Yeah, so in this group, anything can happen. So the most important thing is to start very well on January 17 against Congo and in the second game against Tanzania.
“So the best is to do the job before meeting Morocco. but as I used to say; Zambia can do anything, they can beat anybody.
“You saw they beat Cote d’Ivoire at home a couple of months ago.
“My wish is to see Morocco, DR Congo and Zambia in the last 16 including Algeria because I am working here now with a club. But all the best to Chipolopolo and I am sure they can make it.”
