Zambia coach Herve Renard says it is crucial his team defeats Senegal in their opening game of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday.
Zambia have been drawn against Senegal in Group A, which also includes Libya and co-hosts Equatorial Guinea.
Senegal are a strong team and a team that beats Senegal will go far in the tournament, Renard told the Zambia Daily Mail.
Even though Renard’s team defeated the west Africans from their two meetings during the inaugural Championship of African Nations in 2009, he is not underrating their squad, which is now one of the favourites to lift the trophy.
That was a different competition and this will be played at a different level, Renard said.
The Zambians are looking for their first Cup of Nations trophy after their inspirational title push in 1994, when they were runners-up in to Nigeria in Tunisia.
