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Asanovic warns against underrating Comoros, Lesotho

Zambia national team head coach Aljosa Asanovic has warned against underrating Comoros and Lesotho in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Asanovic believes that it’s the two sides who could complicate Zambia’s qualification to Ivory Coast.

Zambia were drawn in Group H alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Comoros and Lesotho for the qualifiers of the 34th edition of Africa’s showpiece.

Asanovic feels Ivory Coast are the favourites to win the group.

“This is the only group where there are three teams, we will fight for the one slot because as you know Ivory Coast is the host and has already qualified,” he said.

“Ivory Coast is a very good team, they are the favourites with high-level players but matches against them will be good for us to see the character.

“I am so happy when I look at the quality of my players and I am so pleased about the qualifiers but we must be careful especially with Comoros who have a balanced team. We watched them at the last Afcon and they showed very good performances,” added Asanovic.

“I know their best player who plays in Serbia. We have enough time to analyse the team. We must be very careful and not think Lesotho is a small team, we must prepare adequately, the two games against Comoros and Lesotho are very dangerous. I know when playing against Ivory Coast my players will be at 200% but I also want to make sure they are also 200% against Lesotho and Comoros.”

Zambia will be desperate to make it to the Afcon after missing the last three consecutive tournaments.

Chipolopolo last qualified for the tournament in 2015.

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