Zambia national team head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic has outlined his vision for Chipolopolo with qualification for the 2022 African Cup of Nations just the start of his ambitions for the South African nation.
In an interview with ZNBC, the 50-year-old Serbian who signed his two-year contract On Friday after five months of waiting, asserts that he has plans to ensure Zambia returns back to Nations Cup finals and going beyond football followers’ expectations.
“This was one step in the shortest history of honeymoons because the moment that I signed, it was back to work and the realities of life is there is so much to be done and at present. We are targeting CHAN in Cameroon in January 2021, qualifiers for the AFCON that have been moved to 2022 and World cup qualifiers,” Micho said as quoted on Football Association of Zambia’s Facebook page.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “We want to give respect to all Zambians that are dreaming to see their team back to the AFCON where we belong but not only AFCON but going beyond expectations.” [/perfectpullquote]
The former Orlando Pirates coach says he is pushing his side to be ready for the Nations qualifiers that are expected to resume in November despite Covid-19 crisis.
“It is about playing an invisible match at present knowing that the way CAF is planning at present, that is the latest information for you, that they are planning to allow us play friendly matches in September and October so that slowly national teams are coming back,” says Micho.
“In November we play the doubleheader with Botswana, and after that, we shall see when we can play Zimbabwe and Algeria.”
Zambia were due to play Botswana in back-to-back AFCON qualifiers before they were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The 2012 African champion, Zambia missed the last two AFCON editions (2017, 2019).
