GRANT PICKS POSITIVES FROM MOROCCO LOSS

09.09.2025 | Football DNA ⚽️

Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant says he remains proud of his team despite suffering a 2-0 defeat to Morocco in a Group E FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Speaking during the post-match press conference, Grant acknowledged that Zambia was punished for two costly mistakes but insisted the overall performance was encouraging.

“Football is about mistakes. The first-half error gave Morocco their only real chance, and then we conceded from a long-range effort in the second half. But I think Zambia can be proud at the end of the day,” Grant said.

The former Chelsea boss noted that Morocco, ranked 24th in the world and among Africa’s top two teams, struggled to create chances against Zambia.

“We closed them down well; they didn’t score from open play. The only goals came from our errors. This shows that we are improving and competing strongly,” he added.

Grant further highlighted the growing impact of young Zambian players based in Europe, particularly in Spain and Italy, stressing that they represent the future of the national team.

“We don’t yet have enough players in Europe, but the few who are breaking through bring experience from better pitches, higher intensity, and stronger opponents. That’s the level we need to reach if we are to make history,” he said.

While Zambia has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup, Grant urged patience, emphasizing that progress is a journey rather than an instant achievement.

The defeat leaves Zambia still chasing qualification, with the final group fixtures against Niger and Tanzania set for next month.