Zambia coach downplays luck effect in Nations Cup feat

Coach Herve Renard says luck is not the sole reason for Zambia’s triumph at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Chipolopolo defied all odds to emerge winners of the tournament held earlier this year in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Zambia on their way to winning their first African title, accounted for four-time winners, Ghana in the semi finals before pipping favourites Ivory Coast on penalties in the grand finale.

Some however believe the Chipolopolo rode their luck with some antecedence drawn from the plane crash that struck their national team on the coast of Gabon in 1993.

But the Frenchman who inspired the unexpected feat of the Zambians though admitting luck played a role, says his team also did it’s part.

“To win a big trophy you are always to be lucky. Now if you think we only win by luck, this is your opinion,”

“We did our best and God was on our side, this is football.”

Zambia will be defending their title at next year’s Nations Cup in South Africa.

They are drawn in Group C alongside Nigeria, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso.