Grant Banks on Home Support to Overcome Taifa Stars in Crucial Qualifier
Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant has assured fans that his team is fully focused on their upcoming Group E FIFA World Cup qualifier against Tanzania, following their recent 2-1 loss to Morocco.
Speaking at a press conference, Grant emphasized that the qualification process is still open, with five games remaining.
Grant acknowledged the initial difficulty in lifting the team’s spirits after the loss to Morocco but noted a positive shift in morale as training resumed.
“In the beginning, it was very difficult to lift them, but yesterday they started training. I told them, like I always say, that the most important thing is the next game,” Grant stated. “So now they are in a good mood mentally for the next game.”
He highlighted the challenge posed by Tanzania, who have shown strong performances in recent AFCON matches and qualifiers. “We know it is a very important game for us because we want to stay in the picture against a very good opponent. You saw what they did at AFCON against us and against Congo, including in the qualifiers,” he said. “They played well with a lot of intensity, but we need to think about us, and we want to win this game.”
Grant expressed confidence in the support from home fans, which he described as a significant advantage for the Chipolopolo.
“Now we are playing at our home where our supporters are amazing, and we always took our results in the last games we have played here, and we still want it to be like this,” he said.
The crucial match against Tanzania is scheduled for Tuesday evening at 18:00 hours CAT at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. With home support behind them, the Chipolopolo aim to secure a vital win to bolster their World Cup qualification hopes.
