.RENARD

By GRACE CHAILE –

COACH Hervé Renard has named a 25 locally based Ivorian side to face Chipolopolo in this weekend’s preparatory match to be played at the Heroes National Stadium in Lusaka.
This will be the first time the two sides will be meeting since the dramatic 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Libreville, Gabon where Zambia beat Ivory Coast 8-9 on penalties to win the first ever continental title under Renard.
But both sides will feature locally based players as the match is not on a FIFA sanctioned date except that it will be played to commemorate Zambia’s Golden Jubilee which would have been celebrated a day earlier.
It will also be the first time Renard and his assistant Patrice Beaumelle make a return to Zambia since joining the Elephants, who are expected to arrive in the country tomorrow. Renard and Beaumelle will also be honoured during the Jubilee celebrations for being part of Zambia’s 2012 AFCON winning team.
The Ivorian side has Diabagaté Seck (AFAD), Gbohouo Sylvain (Sewé Sport), Gbohouo Sylvain (Séwé Sport), Britto Dagou Willie (AS Denguélé), Diallo Ismael Jean (ES Bingerville), Ismael Diallo Jean (ES Bingerville), and  Késsié Franck Yannick (Stella Club).
Others are Angban Bekanty Victoirien (Chelsea FC), Ousmane Ouattara (Séwé Sport), Koné Ibrahim (Séwé Sport), Diaby Ibrahim (SOA), Koffi Christian (Séwé Sport), Ngoh Brou Manasse (SOA) and Doumbia Idrissa (ES Bingerville).
The rest are Assale Roger (Séwé Sport), Ba Loua d’Avilla (Asec Mimosas), Krizo Gnahore (Korhogo FC), Djika Ephrem (Yopougon FC), Dao Lassina Junior (SOA), Dao Youssouf(AFAD), N’guessan Bi Noel (Séwé Sport) and Koffi Constant (AFAD).
Meanwhile, the Chipolopolo were yesterday expected to regroup in Lusaka ahead of the match.
Coach Honour Janza has summoned 26 local players for the match.
The squad has goalkeepers Satchmo Chakawa (Green Eagles), Danny Munyau (Red Arrows) and Joshua Titima (Power Dynamos).
Defenders are Rodrick Kabwe and Fackson Kapumbu (Zanaco), Kapota Kayawe and Boyd Mkandawire (Napsa Stars), Christopher Munthali and Donashano Malama (Nkana), Alex Mwamba (Power), Adrian Chama (Green Buffaloes) and Nyambe Mulenga (Zesco).
The midfielders are Richard Kasonde and Julius Situmbeko (Power), Spencer Sautu (Green Eagles), Bruce Musakanya, Patrick Ngoma and Shadreck Malambo (Arrows), Charles Zulu (Zanaco), Larry Bwalya (Nchanga Rangers) and Fwayo Tembo (unattached).
The strikers are Given Sinyangwe (Roan United), Chisenga Lukwembe (Napsa Stars) Ronald ‘Sate Sate’ Kampamba (Nkana), Humphrey Maseneko (Konkola Blades) and Alex Ng’onga (Power).