Frenchman Renard to coach Zambia

Frenchman Herve Renard will sign a two-year contract next week to coach Zambia, the national football association said Thursday.

He succeeds local Patrick Phiri, whose contract was not renewed a couple of months after Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) made a first round exit from the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana.

Former Cannes defender Renard assisted compatriot and Ghana coach Claude le Roy at the biennial African tournament and the 'Black Stars' finished third behind Egypt and Cameroon.

The 39-year-old Frenchman has coached clubs in his homeland, England and China and has a big fan in Football Association of Zambia president and 1988 African Footballer of the Year Kalusha Bwalya.

“Herve comes from a new generation of impressive European coaches and I am convinced he can satisfy the ambitions of Zambia,” Bwalya told reporters in the Zambian capital.

Those ambitions will include being one of six African representatives at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and Zambia are away to shock 2006 qualifiers Togo on May 31 in their opening group fixture.