AFCON “I Know How I Need To Make My Team The Best” – Zambia Coach Aljosa Asanovic

Croatian coach Aljosa Asanovic whom Zambia’s football association (FAZ) has recently appointed at the helm of Zambia senior national team last January, believes nothing can prevent the Chipolopolo to qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, or even the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

The new Zambia coach will lead his side in friendly games this month, starting with a trip for locally-based players to Iraq on Friday. They will then tackle Guinea and maybe one other team in France.

Zambia did not qualify for the 2021 Cup of Nations staged in Cameroon, a wake-up call for the side, but Asanovic is adamant that they will be in Ivory Coast.

We have the target to go to the CHAN [African Nations Championship]. And I have the target to prepare the team for the COSAFA Cup. I have many targets. But the first one is to qualify the team for the next Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.” Asanovic told The COSAFA Show.

This is an obligation for myself and my players to the Zambian people. We have 18-million people who expect that we will be at Afcon.”

He says he is aware of what needs to change within the team and says raising the level of performance and being more consistent in games is the place to start.

I know how I need to make my team the best [it can be].” He said.

I have a very good team. But what I want to try to change is the discipline in the game. The mentality of the players. The game is 90 minutes. And the whole time the performance must be on the same level. The discipline in the game and the quality of each player. This is what I am thinking all the time.

“If you are disciplined in training, that will translate into the discipline in the game.” Continued the 56-year-old coach.


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