Zambia
Zambia have revealed a meticulous plan to play Ivory Coast or Togo in a friendly before taking on the Black Stars in September?s must-win 2014 World Cup qualifying clash.
The Chipolopolo are also planning to camp in West Africa in a country with suitable climatic conditions as Kumasi prior to the crunch 2014 Brazil FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ghana.
FAZ general secretary George Kasengele said the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) was considering a country with similar whether patterns as Kumasi where the do-or-die qualifier against the Black Stars is scheduled to be played on September 8.
?We still have not decided on which country the team will camp because it will not make sense to camp the team in Bouake in Ivory Coast or Lagos in Nigeria where the sea level is higher than Kumasi. We are still looking at a suitable country, but it should be definitely in West Africa; we will let the nation know,? Kasengele said.
He said FAZ was also looking at the prospect of a friendly with a top African team, which he did not disclose.
?We are looking at an aspect of playing a friendly with a top African team, I don?t want to let the cat out of the bag just yet,? the FAZ official said.
But sources close to FAZ revealed that FAZ had narrowed down on Ivory Coast and Togo as potential camping sites in West Africa for the Chipolopolo ahead of the decisive World Cup qualifier against Ghana.
Ivory Coast and Togo straddle Ghana on their western and eastern borders, respectively.
A highly-placed source at Football House said they were considering camping in a location with the same altitude as Kumasi where the Group D decider will be played.
Kumasi is a four-hour drive north of Accra and is 45 minutes away by air from the Ghanaian capital.
?We are looking at camping the team in either Cote d?Ivoire or Togo; in one of those two countries centrally located towns that is in line with Kumasi,? the source said, adding; two towns in Ivory Coast have already been suggested for camp.
Ivory Coast?s administrative capital, Yamoussoukro and the country?s second largest city, Bouake are the two camping options available for FAZ.
?A final decision will depend of the type of facilities and security situation in one of those options we are looking at in Togo and Cote d?Ivoire,? the source said.
?However, should they not meet the requirements, we have an option of a third country in West Africa that we cannot name at the moment.?
There are also plans for a proposed friendly against African champions, Nigeria for Herve Renard?s men before flying into Kumasi for the crucial encounter.
Zambia and Ghana are on 11 and 12 points respectively in Group D and the Chipolopolo must beat the Black Stars to advance to the knockout stage which is the final level for the qualifiers to pick the five teams to represent Africa at the World Cup.
The final stage, first leg ties will be played during the weekend of October 11-15 and the final legs will be held during the dates of November 15-19.
