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One of the things we will miss if Renard goes is the independence in the selection players.Renards always tried to pick players he thought would do the job.Unlike Local coaches who are easily influenced by FAZ.

New stars emerge in Angola(FIFA.com) Monday 1 February 2010
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While Egypt’s lifting of their third consecutive CAF Africa Cup of Nations trophy surprised few, there were plenty of revelations at the biennial tournament in Angola. Particularly notable was the emergence of a handful of players that have now planted themselves firmly on world football’s radar.

This was not a tournament in which established stars dominated, with the likes of Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba never really hitting form. However, a new generation of players emerged to pick up the slack, providing countless memorable moments. Ahmed Hassan was surely an exception, winning the tournament’s best player award in his fourth successful continental campaign, but it was the emergence of super-sub Mohamed ‘Gedo’ Nagui that was the biggest bonus for Egyptian supporters.

And while Nigeria’s Peter Odemwingie, Mali’s Seydou Keita and Côte d’Ivoire’s Gervinho confirmed their places among the best on the continent, a clutch of unheralded players also caught the eye at this latest Cup of Nations.

Mohamed Nagui, Egypt
The breakout star of the tournament with five goals in as many substitute appearances, the Al Ittihad striker known as Gedo scored a goal for every 35 minutes he was on the pitch. And they were almost all top-class finishes, with his quick-thinking volley against Mozambique in the group stage arguably the best of the lot. His finish in the 85th minute of the final as Egypt beat Ghana 1-0 was every bit as classy though, and even better was his run and full-speed combination play with Mohamed Zidan that set up the chance with extra time looming.

Samuel Inkoom, Ghana
A strong and balanced right back with a knack for finding himself in the middle of attacking action up the other end, Inkoom proved himself to be a good crosser of the ball as well as a solid defender. The 20-year-old Basel youngster was one of six players from the team that won the U-20 World Cup last October, and the only difficult choice for watchers was which of the composed young Ghanaian defenders were best as Isaac Vorsah, 21, and Lee Addy, 19, also enjoyed top-drawer tournaments.

Jonathan Pitroipa, Burkina Faso
The speedy winger was about as impressive as could be for a player whose team didn’t score any goals in the event. The 23-year-old was often left to cover great distances for his side up front, and he in turn showed great acceleration and skill with both feet as his team drew 0-0 with Côte d’Ivoire before falling to Ghana 1-0. It was a measure of his heart against the Black Stars that even though he spent the match taking on more than one defender at a time, he earned praise from Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac and his backline after the match. At the other end, defender Saidou Panandetiguiri, 25, was the best of back for the Burkinabe.

Emmanuel Mbola, Zambia
Aged just 16 years and eight months, the left-back was a strong part of the Zambian team that performed so well in reaching the quarter-finals in Angola. The Armenian-based player impressed with his physical defending and attacking instincts. He was one of the side’s best players in the last eight defeat to Nigeria on penalties and has already earned 20 caps for the Chipolopolo. The youngest player in the tournament, he is the second player under 17 to play at a Cup of Nations (after Gabonese striker Nzighou Chiva).

Mabina, Angola
While Flavio, Manucho and Gilberto drew most of the headlines for the hosts, little-known right-sided player Mabina also turned a lot of heads. He was a reserve coming into the event, but the Angola-based player was a tireless threat down the flank in Group A before being stymied along with the rest of his team in the quarter-finals by Ghana. Many are now describing him as the next Gilberto, referring to the 27-year-old winger who stars for Al Ahly in Egypt.

Andre Ayew, Ghana
The son of Black Stars legend Abedi Pele, Ayew has seemed to have little problem adjusting to such lofty comparisons so far in his fledgling career. Also a member of the world champion U-20 Ghana team, the 20-year-old was a confident, positive presence in midfield for the injury-hit Black Stars in Angola. The Marseille player was very comfortable on the ball and excelled in running at opposition defences. He kept his concentration to head home the only goal against Burkina Faso in Group B, which sent his team into the knockout rounds. .

Victor Nsofor Obinna, Nigeria
After coming on as a substitute in each of his country’s first five Cup of Nations matches and impressing with his rangy agility and dangerous running, Nsofor finally started a match in the third-place contest against Algeria. And the player, who is on loan at Malaga from Inter Milan, did not disappoint. The 22-year-old scored the game’s only goal with a tremendous burst of pace through the middle of Les Fennecs’ defence before finishing well with his left foot. It was one of the best moments of the tournament for the bronze-medal winners.

Kwadwo Asamoah, Ghana
The 21-year-old Udinese midfielder had one of the sweetest touches in the Cup of Nations, justifying his wearing of the No10 shirt at such a young age. It was his corner kick that curled perfectly onto the head of Asamoah Gyan, who scored the all-important goal in the semi-final against Nigeria. He also showed great skill in the Group B encounter against Côte d’Ivoire with speed and a fine shot that forced the best from goalkeeper Boubacar Barry.

Didier Ovono, Gabon
The goalkeeper, who turned 27 during the tournament, was the hero of the Black Panthers’ shock 1-0 victory over Cameroon to open the tournament. And though the team went out at the group stage based on goals scored, the Le Mans player continued to make an impact with his leadership of the backline and quick reflexes. Ovono only saw his goal breached twice at the CAN, both by Zambia in their third match. Talented young defender Bruno Ecuele Manga also impressed for the Gabonese.

The best news is about our Jacob Mulenga. I hope he can continue improving his game. The Dutch are good at making a player flourish. He was impressive in Angola. Keep the flag flying high in Holland

Issac Chansa has signed a three yaer contract with Olando Pirates

HR performed incredibly:
And made wonderful team which is well worth watching considering players’ low technical level
According to world standards
Moreover HR is most handsome frenchman

You my countrymen are bitter, jealous losers. Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn’t Renard’s contract expire very soon? Is it May or July? Are there any competitions that Zambia is participating in between now and then that I forgot about? So what’s wrong with the guy saying, my contract is up, thank you very much, I am going? WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT? Who is the biggest winner here? The man who came to coach a mediocre team, makes it competitive, earns praise and moves from making $20,000 a month to $50,000 or the man whose team fails and gets fired? That’s why Zambia will never progress. Too many losers and bitter people. You should be happy when people progress. May be if your coaches were as ambitious as Renard, they would also be receiving offers to coach big teams and make big money. Renard has done nothing wrong at all. I read an interview just a few days ago where Jacob Mulenga, the same player you are praising, said that his dream is to play for Liverpool. Jacob has a contract with Utrecht. Does that mean he’s a traitor?? We are criticizing Isaac Chansa for lack of ambition for moving from Sweden to SA. So where has Renard, who’s contract expires in a few months, gone wrong? May be if more Zambians in all fields of endeavor aimed for the sky, our country would be better. I would be happy to see Mbola with Arsenal or Chelsea. I read once that Elijah Litana, who was ten times better than Lucas Radebe, was offered a contract by Leeds United but he refused because he was happy in Saudi Arabia where he was making $10,000 a month. Where is Litana now? Where is Radebe? I would be very happy if Renard got the Nigeria job and took them to the World Cup quarterfinals. Don’t you know that that would be good for Zambia’s reputation as well? Yet some here want him to fail. Never wish ill on others my friends. It comes back to you. The problem with some of you like the HR hater Muzo is that you have taken things too personal and are emotional. Were you competiting for the same girlfriend with Renard from the way you criticise him? He can do no right in your eyes. Then someone says Renard was lucky, we have good players. In that case tell FAZ to save money and not hire a coach because we have good players. Let them hire a Zambian coach or may be we can appoint one of you critics as coach! Just pick the team and let them play. Kekeke!

Kai Kai :
You my countrymen are bitter, jealous losers. Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn’t Renard’s contract expire very soon? Is it May or July? Are there any competitions that Zambia is participating in between now and then that I forgot about? So what’s wrong with the guy saying, my contract is up, thank you very much, I am going? WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT? Who is the biggest winner here? The man who came to coach a mediocre team, makes it competitive, earns praise and moves from making $20,000 a month to $50,000 or the man whose team fails and gets fired? That’s why Zambia will never progress. Too many losers and bitter people. You should be happy when people progress. May be if your coaches were as ambitious as Renard, they would also be receiving offers to coach big teams and make big money. Renard has done nothing wrong at all. I read an interview just a few days ago where Jacob Mulenga, the same player you are praising, said that his dream is to play for Liverpool. Jacob has a contract with Utrecht. Does that mean he’s a traitor?? We are criticizing Isaac Chansa for lack of ambition for moving from Sweden to SA. So where has Renard, who’s contract expires in a few months, gone wrong? May be if more Zambians in all fields of endeavor aimed for the sky, our country would be better. I would be happy to see Mbola with Arsenal or Chelsea. I read once that Elijah Litana, who was ten times better than Lucas Radebe, was offered a contract by Leeds United but he refused because he was happy in Saudi Arabia where he was making $10,000 a month. Where is Litana now? Where is Radebe? I would be very happy if Renard got the Nigeria job and took them to the World Cup quarterfinals. Don’t you know that that would be good for Zambia’s reputation as well? Yet some here want him to fail. Never wish ill on others my friends. It comes back to you. The problem with some of you like the HR hater Muzo is that you have taken things too personal and are emotional. Were you competiting for the same girlfriend with Renard from the way you criticise him? He can do no right in your eyes. Then someone says Renard was lucky, we have good players. In that case tell FAZ to save money and not hire a coach because we have good players. Let them hire a Zambian coach or may be we can appoint one of you critics as coach! Just pick the team and let them play. Kekeke!

good writing kai,i like it when some one excels in life.

@Kai Kai
Most of my sentiments exactly, a lot of bitter and childish comments from some bloggers here. Some just cant handle the truth……..!

please lekeni ukuninika ichiwa pachishiki. Zambias succes at afcon was because of our players not hr. if HR was a good coach we wld have been in the finals

Kai Kai :You my countrymen are bitter, jealous losers. Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn’t Renard’s contract expire very soon? Is it May or July? Are there any competitions that Zambia is participating in between now and then that I forgot about? So what’s wrong with the guy saying, my contract is up, thank you very much, I am going? WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT? Who is the biggest winner here? The man who came to coach a mediocre team, makes it competitive, earns praise and moves from making $20,000 a month to $50,000 or the man whose team fails and gets fired? That’s why Zambia will never progress. Too many losers and bitter people. You should be happy when people progress. May be if your coaches were as ambitious as Renard, they would also be receiving offers to coach big teams and make big money. Renard has done nothing wrong at all. I read an interview just a few days ago where Jacob Mulenga, the same player you are praising, said that his dream is to play for Liverpool. Jacob has a contract with Utrecht. Does that mean he’s a traitor?? We are criticizing Isaac Chansa for lack of ambition for moving from Sweden to SA. So where has Renard, who’s contract expires in a few months, gone wrong? May be if more Zambians in all fields of endeavor aimed for the sky, our country would be better. I would be happy to see Mbola with Arsenal or Chelsea. I read once that Elijah Litana, who was ten times better than Lucas Radebe, was offered a contract by Leeds United but he refused because he was happy in Saudi Arabia where he was making $10,000 a month. Where is Litana now? Where is Radebe? I would be very happy if Renard got the Nigeria job and took them to the World Cup quarterfinals. Don’t you know that that would be good for Zambia’s reputation as well? Yet some here want him to fail. Never wish ill on others my friends. It comes back to you. The problem with some of you like the HR hater Muzo is that you have taken things too personal and are emotional. Were you competiting for the same girlfriend with Renard from the way you criticise him? He can do no right in your eyes. Then someone says Renard was lucky, we have good players. In that case tell FAZ to save money and not hire a coach because we have good players. Let them hire a Zambian coach or may be we can appoint one of you critics as coach! Just pick the team and let them play. Kekeke!

This is the best blog I have ever read. The problem is that most people wrote HR and the team off, now they don’t want to accept that the team performed well and that HR is a good coach.