Zambia coach open to offer from ‘top African side’

Herve Renard has guided Zambia to their first quarter-final in 14 years

Zambia coach Herve Renard says he is keen to take charge of a top African team when his contract expires in July.

The Frenchman, 41, has led his team into their first Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final in 14 years.

Despite reviving Chipolopolo, Renard says his ambition is to soon work with a higher profile team than Zambia.

“I know what I want, I’m very ambitious and I’m not scared to say so,” said Renard, who assisted Claude Le Roy with Ghana two years ago.

“I said even before this tournament that I wish to be coach of a very top team one day.

“I’m young but I’m not scared about anything.

“Now I can speak English and I’m French, so it’s only the Portuguese-speaking countries like Angola and Mozambique that it would be difficult for me to work with because the language is very important.

“But if they qualify for the World Cup, I will sign immediately for them.

“But really, I would want to stay in Africa with a bigger team. Claude Le Roy explained to me a lot of things about Africa.

I said even before this tournament that I wish to be coach of a very top team one day. Renard Herve, Zambia coach

“There are good things and bad things in Africa, but he said his heart is always in Africa. I’m the same now. I like this continent.”

The Frenchman admitted his time with the Chipolopolo of Zambia may soon come to an end.

“My contract will finish very soon, in a few months,” he said.

“I’m not sure I want to extend or renew my contract, so even if they don’t want me, it won’t be a problem.”

Zambia take on Nigeria in Monday’s quarter-final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Lubango with the winner meeting either Angola and Ghana for a place in the final.