Football
Exclusive: Chipolopolo’s Qualification Excites Patrice Beaumelle
Former Zambia coach Patrice Beaumelle praises Chipolopolo's AFCON qualifiers performance, securing top spot in Group G. Supporting them from afar, he expresses pride in exclusive interview, wishing them well for upcoming AFCON in Morocco.
GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images.
Former Zambia national team coach Patrice Beaumelle is proud of Chipolopolo’s run in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers that saw the team earn the spot at next year’s tournament Group winners.
Beaumelle holds Zambia in a special place. He was the physical trainer when the nation won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 and later became the coach in 2013 following the departure of compatriot Herve Renard.
Since leaving his post in 2014, Beaumelle has constantly followed the Zambia National team from a distance and always expresses great joy whenever the team is doing well.
JOB WELL DONE GUYS
Beaumelle, who manages Algerian side MC Algiers told SportsBoom.com in an exclusive interview that he is impressed by Zambia’s qualification and the manner in which Avram Grant’s men achieved it.
To qualify, Zambia finished top of Group G with 13 points, one better than second placed Ivory Coast who are also the defending champions. Sierra Leone and Chad finished the qualifiers with five and two points respectively.
“I am very proud of you, you finished on top, you did such good work to win at home and win abroad,” Beaumelle said.
He hailed the team for the two big results against Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone.
On November 15, Zambia beat Ivory Coast 1 – 0 at the Levy Mwanwasa Stadium courtesy of a goal from in-form striker Kennedy Musonda. They rounded up the qualifiers with a 2 – 0 win over Sierra Leone in Monrovia, Liberia on Tuesday.
ALL THE BEST IN MOROCCO
Zambia’s biggest challenge will be to replicate their performances at the big stage in Morocco next year.
Earlier this year, Chipolopolo suffered a group stage elimination at the 2023 edition held in Ivory Coast after playing to two stalemates against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and one loss against Morocco.
Beaumelle has sent his best wishes to the team for next edition.
“You are going to the next Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco so I am really happy and proud of you guys, once Chipolopolo, Always Chipolopolo, I love you guys and all the best in Morocco,” he said.
The AFCON will be played between December 21, 2024 and January 18, 2026. Zambia is among the 24 teams that will be at the tournament.
Mathews is an experienced public relations practitioner, journalist, and photographer. He began his career as a sports reporter at the Zambia Daily Mail, one of the country's leading publications.