Avram Grant’s Next Move After Chipolopolo’s AFCON Exit.
Avram Grant’s Next Move After Chipolopolo’s AFCON Exit.
After the early exit of the Chipolopolo Boys at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the football community is naturally raising questions. The prominent issue under discussion is the fate of the head coach, Avram Grant.
Following disappointing performances by several teams at the continental showcase, a number of coaches have faced dismissal or resigned. However, Avram Grant’s situation might differ, as the Zambian Football Association appears inclined to retain the seasoned coach at the helm of the 2012 AFCON champions.
Avram Grant took over as the head coach of Chipolopolo in December 2022, filling the vacancy left by Croatian coach Aljosa Asanovic’s departure two months earlier. Grant, the former Chelsea manager, signed a two-year deal with an option to extend, concluding in December.
Since Grant’s arrival, the team has suffered only two defeats – one in the World Cup qualifiers against Niger and another against Morocco on Wednesday. The Zambian Football House may be prioritizing stability, a quality that has been lacking in the technical bench since 2013 when Herve Renard left the position.
Zambia has seen 11 coaches come and go since Renard’s departure in 2013, with Beston Chambeshi holding the position twice. Grant’s tenure has been commendable, marked by the team’s qualification for AFCON for the first time since 2015.
In his eleven games in charge, Grant secured 5 wins, four draws, and only two losses. The team scored 20 goals while conceding ten. The Zambian Football House is yet to release an official statement on the matter.
Looking ahead, the Chipolopolo Boys will shift their focus to the World Cup qualifiers, returning to action in June with the aim of securing their first-ever appearance at the global showpiece. Automatic qualification for the FIFA World Cup™ 2026 awaits the winners of each of the nine groups, while the four best runners-up will participate in a CAF Play-Off tournament, with the winner advancing to the FIFA Play-off Tournament.
