Zambia to ambush Ghana

“Playing in the final is the least everyone expects from us,” admitted Serb coach Goran Stevanovic ahead of the semi-final showdown at the 35 000-seat Estadio de Bata.
“We relish being among the favourites and there is additional pressure on the team because I have told them many times that Ghana must win the Cup of Nations for the first time in 30 years.”
Severely depleted Ghana finished runners-up to Egypt in the 2010 final and later that year became only the third African country to reach the World Cup quarter-finals before losing on penalties to Uruguay.
By reaching the penultimate stage of the biennial African football showcase for the first time since 1996, Zambia have met the pre-tournament target of French coach Herve Renard.
“There is no more pressure on us,” said Renard, “and now we can dream of going all the way to the final. Ghana are favourites, but we will be prepared for them.”
Renard also said Ghana may be favourites for today’s match but the Black Stars are not better than Zambia.
“Zambia aren’t the favourites, but in our heads Ghana aren’t superior to us.
“They haven’t won the Nations Cup since 1982, so they’ll have a certain pressure to get a result which we don’t have.
“Ghana may have more experienced and quality players but it was the same situation with Senegal (beaten 2-1 by Zambia in the first round).
“When you qualify for the semi-finals if you can’t beat the big sides you don’t deserve to be in the final, that means there’ll be no pressure on us.”
Renard, who was assistant coach with the Ghana team at the 2008 Nations Cup on home turf, was relieved that his players had an extra day’s rest between the quarter-finals compared to Ghana, who also had to travel from Franceville to Bata.
“I prefer to be in my situation than theirs in terms of preparing for this match,” commented Renard.
“But Ghana’s manager would prefer to have his squad than mine. Me, I prefer to keep mine and achieve something big.”
Zambia captain Christopher Katongo, apppearing alongside him at the pre-match press conference, added: “To be at the top you have to beat top teams. If you beat Swaziland, you won’t receive any recognition. This is a chance for our players to become known and to take a step towards the World Cup.”
Playing in the February 12 decider would have special significance for the Copper Bullets as it will be hosted by Gabon, off whose coast a plane carrying the 1993 Zambian squad crashed with no survivors among the 30 on board.
“Imagine if we could lift the trophy in Libreville — it would be a fantastic way to honour the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the land they loved,” added Renard.
Although Ghana have won two of three previous Cup of Nations matches between the countries, Zambia are likely to be the fresher outfit come the late afternoon kick-off in the most populous Equatoguinean city.
While Zambia cruised to a 3-0 quarter-final win over Sudan in Bata last Saturday, Ghana were taken to extra-time a day later before overcoming 10-man Tunisia 2-1 in south-eastern Gabonese city Franceville.
Renard also has a more settled line-up with 10 starting in all four matches against Senegal, Libya, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan while full-backs Francis Kasonde and Davies Nkausu have made two appearances each.
Ghana
1968 Cote d’lvoire 4-3
1970 Cote d’lvoire 2-1
1978 Tunisia 1-0
1982 Algeria 3-2
1992 Nigeria 2-1
1996 South Africa 0-3
2008 Cameroon 0-1
2010 Nigeria 1-0
Zambia
1974 Congo 4-2
1982 Libya 2-1
1990 Nigeria 0-2
1994 Mali 4-0
1996 Tunisia 2-4
At Libreville, Gabon: Cote d’lvoire v Mali (9pm)
Cote d’lvoire
1968 Ghana 3-4
1970 Ghana 1-2
1986 Cameroon 0-1
1992 Cameroon 0-0 (3-1 penalties)
1994 Nigeria 2-2 (2-4 penalties)
2006 Nigeria 1-0
2008 Egypt 1-4
Mali
1972 Zaire 4-3
1994 Zambia 0-4
2002 Cameroon 0-3
2004 Morocco 0-4 – AFP.