Avram Grant: CHAN key to building Zambia’s future, not just winning silverware
Avram Grant, Zambia's head coach, during training
Zambia national team head coach Avram Grant has emphasized that the upcoming Total Energies African Nations Championship (CHAN) is more than just a pursuit of trophies, it is an important platform for long-term national team development.
Drawn into a highly competitive Group C alongside tournament hosts Kenya, two-time champions Morocco, DR Congo, and Angola, Zambia faces a tough road ahead. Yet for Grant, the focus goes beyond short-term success.
“We are preparing well because CHAN is very important for us,” Grant told Cafonline. “We don’t have many players in Europe like other countries. CHAN is a tool for us, our main national team is largely composed of local players.”
The former Chelsea and Ghana coach believes that the CHAN tournament is a golden opportunity for talent identification and player growth, especially in a context where Zambia heavily relies on domestic players.
Acknowledging the difficulty of their group, Grant sees it as a learning curve that will sharpen his squad:
“We have a tough group, but that will help us grow in such an environment,” he said.
He is particularly focused on the development of Zambia’s younger players, who he believes are on the right path but still require guidance.
“For the young players, this is a chance to grow and mature. They still need a bit of polishing, but I’m confident we’ll have a good tournament with them.”
Grant also pointed to the team’s recent performances as a sign of progress, noting that Zambia has gone four consecutive matches without conceding a goal.
“We’ve shown good football and a lot of improvement. Now we’re facing a different challenge, and we want to continue developing these players. That’s the real target.”
With CHAN serving as both a proving ground and a stepping stone, Grant is optimistic that Zambia can harness the tournament’s experience to strengthen the foundation of the national team for years to come.
