The Zambia Football Coaches Association (ZAFCA) has showered praise upon Coach Avram Grant for his outstanding performance in the delayed Ivory Coast 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. This remarkable journey has seen the Chipolopolo return to the continental showpiece after three consecutive disappointments. In a recent interview, ZAFCA Vice President Lewis Shambulo expressed his confidence in Grant, asserting that the coach has unequivocally proven himself as the right man for the job, thanks to his impeccable track record. Grant assumed his role with the Chipolopolo in December of the previous year, and under his leadership, the team hasn't suffered a single defeat in the last four AFCON qualifiers. The Israeli manager took the reins in December 2022 and masterfully guided the team through four games, securing victories over Lesotho with impressive scores of 3-1 and 2-0, triumphing over Ivory Coast with a commanding 3-0 scoreline, and concluding with a 1-1 draw against Comoros. Shambulo remarked, "With Grant, we made the right choice at the right time. He has delivered excellent results, and we hope to see this success transition to the World Cup. He has invigorated the team and seems to have laid the foundation for our preparations." He emphasized the importance of the upcoming draws, stating that they would shape Zambia's preparations for the AFCON. "We've been to the AFCON and won it before. We can't simply participate; we must compete strongly and advance beyond the group stage, regardless of our group composition," Shambulo declared. Shambulo also expressed his satisfaction with the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) scheduling two friendly matches before the team's first World Cup qualifier against Congo Brazzaville in November. Zambia finds itself in Group E, alongside Morocco, Niger, Eritrea, Congo Brazzaville, and Tanzania, with the group winner earning automatic qualification to the World Cup. Shambulo emphasized the importance of playing friendly matches against teams with a similar style of play, especially considering the relatively favorable group, while highlighting Morocco as a team to be cautious of. In conclusion, Shambulo conveyed his optimism for Zambia's prospects in both the AFCON and World Cup qualifiers, underlining the necessity of strategic preparations and strong performances on the international stage.