BATAVictory over Sudan on Saturday will take Zambia into the CAF Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals for the first time in 16 years.A last-four place was the bottom line set by French coach Herve Renard for the Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) when given control of the national squad a second time last October.Zambia were upset by Tunisia in the 1996 semi-finals in South Africa and suffered five first-round exits subsequently before Renard got them to the quarter-finals a couple of years ago.They began the latest edition of the biennial African football showpiece with a bang as Emmanuel Mayuka and Rainford Kalaba scored within the first 20 minutes en route to a shock 2-1 victory over much fancied Senegal.Next came Libya in a Bata mudbath sparked by torrential pre-match rain and while the swift-footed Zambians often got bogged down by the conditions, they displayed resilience to come from behind twice and take a point.Needing a win over co-hosts Equatorial Guinea in their final Group A fixture to dodge a last-eight match-up with title co-favourites Côte d’Ivoire, they succeeded thanks to a goal from captain Christopher Katongo.Young brother Felix Katongo and fellow 2012 squad member James Chamanga were among the scorers when Zambia outplayed Sudan 3-0 four years ago in Ghana in the only previous Cup of Nations meeting between the countries.“You just have to fight for the flag you represent and for the national colours you wear,” said Renard as he beat a patriotic drum ahead of the first quarter-final of the weekend at the 35,000-seat Estadio de Bata.
