Zambia coach launches bizarre CAF attack after Chipolopolo AFCON disaster

Published on: 31 January 2013

Zambia coach Hervé Renard has launched a bizarre attack on CAF implying they did not want them to retain the Africa Cup of Nations title after the Chipolopolo bombed out of this year's tournament at the first round.

The Frenchman said staging this year’s African Nations Cup so soon after the last one, last year, showed that CAF wanted Zambia out.

Renard further had a dig at CAF saying the organisation had never wanted Zambia to represent Africa at the Confederations Cup in Brazil later this year.

The controversial trainer also blamed the pitch at Mbombela Stadium for his team’s early elimination from the Nations Cup even though all the countries played on the same pitch.

The Chipolopolo, who arrived in the tournament as African champions following their triumph at last year’s Nations Cup, were first-round flops.

Zambia failed to win a single game in the first round.

Their three draws — the last a goalless stalemate against group winners Burkina Faso on Tuesday night — contributed to their downfall.

In a desperate attmept to defend his side's early exit from the tournament the Frenchman blamed CAF even though Zambia FA president Kalusha Bwalya sits on the CAF Executive Committee.

"To be honest with you I think that CAF is very happy because Zambia is not going to play the Confederations Cup," the Frenchman said.

"Because (they think) Zambia is not sexy enough to go to the Confederations ... it's the truth."

Renard pointed to a poor, sandy pitch in Nelspruit claiming it hampered his Zambians' passing game.

"The pitch was one of the reasons we went out early," Renard said.

"If I complain about the pitch, people would say I’m crying. But you just have to go and see the pitch for yourself."

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