African champions Zambia today begin their title defence when they face Ethiopia in a Group C encounter at Mbombela Stadium here in Nelspruit.
The two sides last clashed in 2010 at the CECAFA Cup senior challenge during a quarter -final match the East Africans won 2-1 but that’s as high as Ethiopia’s high profile engagements have gone in the last 31 years with no appearance at Africa’s biggest football feast.
Herve Renard is expected to use this match as a statement of how of age his champions have come and doubters will be watching out whether the Copper Bullets still retain the sting that handed them the crown in 2012.
Once again, only for the champion status, Zambians are outsiders to lift the crown but living the underdog badge has never been strange to the Chipolopolo.
Zambia’s record going into the tournament has been unimpressive managing only one win against South Africa who they beat 1-0 in the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup in October 2012.
They recorded losses against Saudi Arabia (2-1), Tanzania (1-0), Angola (2-0) and posted nil-all draws against Morocco and Norway.
But Renard has assured the Zambians that results in friendly matches do not matter.
The return to action of FC Utrecht talisman Jacob Mulenga who missed the last Africa Cup and the now revived Collins Mbesuma accounts for some of the positives in the Zambia camp.
A huge component of the team was at the 2012 tournament and that means there could be no drastic changes.
However the Frenchman has not indicated which frontline he will settle for given the rich assemblage of strikers at his disposal.
Renard has hardly departed from the 4-5-1 formation that sees Southampton striker Emmanuel Mayuka play at the tip of the attack with Christopher Katongo playing a little deeper. He shuffles that formation with the 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 approach to slaughter his opponents.
The other option could be twinning Jacob and Mbesuma upfront.
Many will be looking out for how the ‘master’ Rainford Kalaba fairs after his return from an injury sustained on October 10 last during a CAF Champions League match against Esperance in Lubumbashi.
The twin towers of Stophilla Sunzu and Hichani Himoonde will once again take their place at the heart of Zambia’s backline with Davies Nkausu and Emmanuel Mbola taking up places on the right and left back respectively.
Renard has coyly played down the goal drought that has been a concern back home by promising the fans that “we are reserving goals from the tournament”.
In a late kick off Nigeria face Burkina Faso in another Group C clash at the same venue.
Report by Sydney Mungala in Nelspruit