Football
Ed Dove, Special to ESPN 6y

Sven Vandenbroeck named new Zambia coach

Zambia have named Belgian Sven Vandenbroeck as their new head coach, according to a Football Association of Zambia statement.

The 38-year-old arrives as the successor to Wedson Nyireda, who left his post in May to join Baroka FC of the South African top flight.

"I think it is a lovely journey in front of us and we are going to make the best of it," Vandenbroek said, as per FAZ's official Facebook page.

"I am looking forward to the five games program that we have. It will be tough but I think we can make it, we have to make it.

"I am looking forward to knowing everybody," he added, "the players, the coaches and everybody around in the technical committee."

Vandenbroeck was assistant coach to Hugo Broos during Cameroon's African Cup of Nations-winning campaign in 2017, having previously worked at OH Leuven.

He also featured for the likes of KV Mechelen, Roda JC, De Graafschap and Lierse SK during a playing career that took him to Greece, Norway and the Netherlands.

"We have confidence that he should be able to deliver to the expectations of FAZ, the team and people of Zambia," FAZ's acting general secretary Adrian Kashala said in a statement [as per Xinhua].

"Sven's record and experience in Africa is very good. He was the top choice of those that were considered.

"He is an AFCON winner with Cameroon," Kashala continued, "ambitious, young, well qualified, eager for the huge and exciting challenge that the Chipolopolo job provides.

"His passion and commitment to bring success to the Zambia national team is not in doubt."

Zambia have been drawn alongside Mozambique, Namibia and Guinea-Bissau in their 2019 AFCON qualifying group, and were beaten 1-0 by Os Mambas in their opening match.

Under Nyirenda, they fell in the final of the Four Nations tournament and the COSAFA Cup, and were eliminated in the quarter final of the African Nations Championship.

Vandenbroeck will be formally unveiled to the media on Tuesday, and will be introduced to the Ministry of Sports on Monday.

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