TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025: Know the Coach: Avram Grant (Zambia)
Fact File
Name: Avram Grant
Place of birth: Israel
Age: 69
Current Team: Zambia
Tenure: 2022
The Football Association of Zambian (FAZ) announced Avram Grant as head coach of Chipolopolo in 2022, affording the former Chelsea coach a second spell in Africa after leading the Black Stars of Ghana to a TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2017 semi-final finish.
Despite a disappointing showing in Cote d’Ivoire last year that saw the 2012 champions failing to make it out the group stages, Chipolopolo are led by one of the most experienced tacticians of the modern game with wealth of football experience and knowledge of the game who will be key for the Zambians in their 19thTotalEnergies CAF AFCON appearance this year.
Career Highlights
Avram Grant heads to his second consecutive TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations as one of the most experienced coaches with a highly decorated CV.
The Isreal-born coach’s managerial career dates back to 1972 when he coached the youth side of Hapoel Petah Tikva in Israel.
Years later, Grant moved up to head coach Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa before heading up the Isreal national team between 2002 – 2006.
Grant then shifted focus to club football where he led European giants, Chelsea to the Champions League Final in 2008. After leaving Chelsea, Grant joined Portsmouth, West Ham United and a number of clubs before being appointed head coach of the Black Stars where he led them to a semi-final finish in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2017 finals.
Coaching Style
His wealth of coaching has honed him into a father figure to his players who in turn, give their all to Grant.
With exposure to various playing styles and schemes across the world during his club coaching days, Grant is known to assemble disciplined and structured teams that are built on strong defences.
TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Experience
Avram Grant will be coaching at his third TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.
The coach led the Black Stars to a semi-final finish in 2017 before returning to the finals with Zambia in 2023 where they bowed out in the group stages.
Impact on Zambia
Despite bowing out of the group stages in Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia showed great signs of improvement and put up strong performances at the finals.
The team has become more structured in defense and moves as a unit in both attack and defense.
Conclusion
Chipolopolo’s TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 campaign could be a success for the former champions should they manage to execute Avram Grant’s tried and tested tactical approach.
The 69-year-old who is also approaching the tail end of his coaching career will also aim to make the Morocco finals a memorable one for his coaching career.