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ZAMBIA coach Herve Renard says players that will fail to impress in tomorrow’s international friendly against Senegal will be dropped.
And forward Jacob Mulenga of Dutch side FC Utrecht, the South Africa trio of goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene, defenders Joseph Musonda and Davies Nkausu have joined the Chipolopolo in Paris ahead of the Senegal clash billed for Saint Leu.
Renard said in an interview at Pondari Hotel in Harare on Sunday that he is eager to assemble a team that will overcome Ghana in the 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifier in Kumasi on September 6.
He said the technical bench is taking the match against the Teranga Lions seriously as it will help them to come up with a formidable team for the must-win tie against Ghana.
Renard said the Chipolopolo will not rely on past glory when they face Senegal.
Eventual winners Zambia beat Senegal 2-1 in the opening game at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Bata, Equatorial Guinea.
“It will be a different game,” Renard said.
He said the onus is on the players to prove themselves.
Zambia are second in Group D with 11 points, one behind Ghana.
Meanwhile, Mulenga, Mweene, Musonda and Nkausu linked up with the TP Mazembe quartet of Rainford Kalaba, Nathan Sinkala, Stopilla Sunzu and Hichani Himoonde.
The TP Mazembe players were the first to arrive in Paris yesterday in the company of Chipolopolo logistics and equipment manager Stanley Kaseko.
Football Association of Zambia communications manager Erick Mwanza said in Lusaka yesterday that strikers Emmanuel Mayuka of English side Southampton and Fwayo Tembo of Romanian outfit Astra Giurgiu were expected in Paris yesterday afternoon.
“Our head of delegation in Paris, Richard Kazala has confirmed that the boys are in good spirits and looking forward to the match. Emmanuel Mayuka and Fwayo Tembo are expected at the team hotel on Monday afternoon (yesterday) while the rest of the squad members are arriving on Tuesday (today) morning,” Mwanza said.
Others expected today are Danny Munyao, Evans Kangwa, Bruce Musakanya, Roderick Kabwe, Kondwani Mtonga, Festus Mbewe, Bornwell Mwape, Bronson Chama, Christopher Munthali, Kabaso Chongo and Renard.
The 10 were part of the national team that was supposed to face Zimbabwe in Sunday’s African Nations Championship qualifier in Harare, which was postponed.
Mwanza said assistant coach Masauso Mwale has remained in Lusaka to take charge of the CHAN squad.
“This is very important because it will ensure that the local team maintains fitness and top form and is ready for the match on Sunday in Harare. We have very limited time between the match in Paris and the qualifier against Zimbabwe.
The local players who are not part of the team, which will play against Senegal, return home from Harare on Monday evening.
“As they return, they need to keep working and preparing for the match this Sunday. We have sanctioned Herve’s proposition to have assistant coach Mwale stay behind to take the lads through the drills in Lusaka until the rest of the team returns from France,” Mwanza said.
