AFCON�s French talisman eyes rare feat
Mqondisi Dube | Friday January 27, 2017 15:06
In the middle of the encouraging run, there is one familiar face who possesses significant ‘winning knowledge’ to propel the Atlas Lions to success.
Hervé Renard’s second spell with Zambia thrust him into the spotlight after the Frenchman led the southern African country to a rare triumph.
When Zambia arrived in Gabon five years ago, they were ranked outsiders, but tore history books to shreds with an emotional first African title.
Chipolopolo beat Ivory Coast in a marathon penalty shoot-out to grab the trophy.
It was achieved just kilometres from where the entire Zambia team had perished off the coast of Gabon in 1993.
A topless, smiling Renard became an instant hero, with even women who were not too keen on football, maintaining some interest.
He became known as the manager with the ‘lucky’ white shirt and returned to Equatorial Guinea in 2015, this time in charge of the team he defeated in 2012; Ivory Coast.
It proved a happy return as the Elephants brushed aside Ghana to lift a first trophy since 1992.
Save for 2010, each time Renard has been to the AFCON finals he has emerged with the trophy, a good omen for Morocco.
The Atlas Lions are, like Zambia in 2012, ranked outsiders as they have not been convincing leading up to the 2017 tournament.
But the presence of Renard should be sufficient to calm the nerves of Moroccans as they prepare to face seven-time winners and fellow north Africans, Egypt.
Renard is acutely aware that he is only three games away from another rare achievement after he became the first coach to win the trophy with two different sides in 2015.
But the road looks daunting. However, the 49-year-old will find solace in that his charges are picking form at exactly the correct time.
They appeared tactically superior to the Ivorians while they beat Togo 3-1 in the group stages after a languid start to the campaign.
Renard, however, would be wary of the threat carried by the Pharaohs, a team that has been on the wane but appears rejuvenated after an impressive 1-0 win over Ghana thanks to a Mohammed Salah goal. Renard has refused to accept the favourites tag in a tournament that still has Egypt, Ghana, dark horses, DRC, Senegal, Cameroon, Tunisia and Burkina Faso.
“We are not favourites to win the tournament, there are better teams than us. But we are still in it.”
But history is firmly on Renard’s side to go on and become the first coach to lift the gold-plated cup for the third time with different sides.