Today Zambia qualified for the final of the AFCON after a 1-0 win over Ghana. It was Emmanuel Mayuka’s solitary strike that proved decisive in the tie against the Black Stars and booked a finals berth, a third time in Zambia’s history since 1974 [defeating Zaire] & 1994 [defeating Nigeria]. However it is the Chipolopolo coach, Hervé Renard, who will be grabbing all the headlines here in Dakar. Indeed various Senegalese media are rife with the Federation of Senegalese Football [reportedly] lining up the Frenchman to take over as National Team coach, following the dismissal of Amara Traoré.
The French coach began on the African circuit as assistant coach to Claude Leroy in 2007 [ironically] with Ghana. He spent a year with the Black Stars before taking over the Zambia post where he spent 2 years before leaving for Angola. However it did not go well as he encountered issues with obtaining a work visa & the remuneration promised by his contract and thus leaves after 6 months only. He then experiences a short 9-month stint with USM Alger before returning at the Zambia post he had left, in November 2011.
Renard’s current success is heavily based on him taking over the side he helped build 4 years ago. Having beaten so convincingly the Teranga Lions and leading his team to the final by beating tournament favorites Ghana, it is obvious why the Senegalese Federation would be so keen on appropriating themselves of Renard’s services.
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