Renard admits divided loyalty

Cote d’Ivoire coach Herve Renard admits he is suffering from a case of divided loyalties ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Zambia.

Renard will face Zambia for the first time on October 25 in Lusaka since leaving the Chipolopolo job exactly a year ago.

“I am coming to Zambia with divided loyalty my heart with Zambia and professional loyalty is with my employers Ivory Coast,” Renard said after landing at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka on Wednesday.

Renard led Zambia to Africa Cup triumph in 2012 during his second stint as coach from 2011 to 2013.

The Frenchman went one better from his first tenure between 2008 and 2010 when he guided Zambia to its first Africa Cup quarterfinal appearance since 1996 at the 2010 edition in Angola.

Meanwhile, the friendly is part of Zambia’s commemoration of the country’s 50th independence anniversary that falls on October 24. rENARD