Avram Grant Refuses to Quit, Warns Kenya of Zambia Fighting Spirit

Zambia head coach Avram Grant has vowed his side will not bow out of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) quietly, insisting that the Copper Bullets will show their fighting spirit when they face host nation Kenya in their final Group A clash on Sunday, August 17.

Kenya, who have already secured progression to the knockout stages in their debut tournament, go into the match high on confidence after Angola’s 2-0 loss to DR Congo confirmed their qualification.

Meanwhile, Zambia enter the fixture seeking redemption after three straight defeats in a difficult group campaign.

“Our aim is to win,” said Grant, emphasizing that despite elimination, his team remains determined to end their tournament on a positive note.

“Yes, this is our last game, unfortunately. But this tournament was very important for me and for all the staff. It’s a new team, and we wanted to see who is available for the national team.”

Kenya’s success has been one of the stories of the tournament, with the home fans lifting the Harambee Stars to memorable results. Their superior head-to-head record against Morocco and DR Congo secured their passage, and the spotlight will now be on whether they can maintain their momentum against Zambia.

Grant, however, warned that his young squad is steadily improving.

“Yes, Kenya used their home advantage very well. The support has pushed them and they achieved good results. But we continue with our targets. We improved in every game—each match was better. In the last game, at a crucial moment in the 64th minute, the referee canceled our goal. I still don’t know the reason. If that goal had stood, maybe we still had a chance.”

The veteran coach also expressed frustration at officiating inconsistencies, but quickly turned the focus back to his long-term objectives.

“I don’t usually like to speak about referees, but I hope tomorrow’s officiating will be better. We are improving. Yes, we conceded goals in the second half, but we’re learning.”

For Grant, the CHAN campaign has always been about more than just results. The Israeli tactician views the tournament as a vital platform for evaluating local talent and laying foundations for Zambia’s football future.

“In my first four games as Zambia coach, the team conceded two goals each time. But then we kept four consecutive clean sheets. That’s progress,” he explained.

“Even here, with many young players, the focus is always on improvement and preparing players who can step up to the first team.”

He underlined professionalism and identity as key lessons for his players.

“That was one of my main targets—instilling professionalism. Even if we are eliminated, players must learn to approach every training session and match with the right attitude. Whether it’s a friendly, a semi-final, or like tomorrow against the hosts, they need to fight with seriousness and commitment.”

Zambia’s record at CHAN remains modest, with their best finish being third in the 2009 inaugural edition. But Grant is encouraged by the talent he has unearthed.

“At CHAN, the idea is to give chances to players from domestic leagues who are not yet in Europe. And I’ve seen some very good players—both in our squad and in the teams we’ve faced. This is the value of the tournament: it allows us to discover new talent we hadn’t seen before.”

The fixture will be the 35th meeting between Zambia and Kenya. Historically, the Copper Bullets hold the upper hand with 21 wins to Kenya’s six.

However, their last encounter in October 2020 saw Kenya edge a 2-1 friendly victory, adding intrigue to Sunday’s clash, which will be the first between the sides at CHAN level.