By Mubukwanu Kaingu
The last man to mastermind Chipolopolo’s back-to-back competitive wins over northern African opposition, Wedson Nyirenda, has given his take on how to approach this week’s away clash against Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Chipolopolo visit Morocco on June 7 in Agadir on match day three of the 2026 Group E qualifiers.
Nyirenda, who earned legendary status after steering Zambia to a 3-1 home and 1-0 away victories over Algeria in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers , believes Morocco can be overcome but it will take some serious tactical focus.
Morocco already come into Friday nights game in Agadir having beaten Chipolopolo this year 1-0 at the 2023 AFCON on January 24 in Cote d’Ivoire.
“Playing North African teams is always the same.They are very forward in their wing player , previously they were playing passing the ball in the channel and then release and set somebody to go in the wing because they are very good at finishing crosses,” Nyirenda said.
“But now, they have changed.They are making the underlap, they play combination play in the midfield and combination play in the wings then somebody will underlap, he will not go wide but first pass the ball within the channel and pull the ball back.”
Nyirenda said it will be interesting to see how Zambia will counter that strategy.
“What we did against the Algerians was to press them high, in a high block, and we made sure they were not going to play,” Nyirenda said.
“Because if you let them play, they are very good, they are very good. They have a hundred players in one game who can play so if you give them the ball and you give them the space you will pay.”
Nyirenda added that it’s better to restrict them to the long ball.
“Let them fight for the ball because this is a team that is comfortable even the goalkeeper so you take away the ball and you punish them in the process,” he said.
