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and there is additional pressure on the team because I have told them many times that Ghana must win the Cup of Nations for the first time in 30 years.”
Severely depleted Ghana finished runners-up to Egypt in the 2010 final and later that year became only the third African country to reach the World Cup quarter-finals before losing on penalties to Uruguay.
By reaching the penultimate stage of the biennial African football showcase for the first time since 1996, Zambia have met the pre-tournament target of French coach Herve Renard.
“There is no more pressure on us,” said Renard, “and now we can dream of going all the way to the final. Ghana are favourites, but we will be prepared for them.”
Playing in the 12 February decider will have special significance for the Copper Bullets as it will be hosted by Gabon, off whose coast a plane carrying the 1993 Zambian squad crashed with no survivors among the 30 on board.
“Imagine if we could lift the trophy in Libreville – it would be a fantastic way to honour the memories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the land they loved,” added Renard.
Although Ghana have won two of three previous cup of Nations matches between the countries, Zambia are likely to be the fresher outfit come the late afternoon kick-off in the most populous Equatorial Guinean city.
While Zambia cruised to a 3-0 quarter-final win over Sudan in Bata last Saturday, Ghana were taken to extra time a day later before overcoming 10-man Tunisia 2-1 in the south-eastern Gabonese city Franceville.
Renard also has a more settled line-up with 10 starting in all four matches – against Senegal, Libya, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan – while full-backs Francis Kasonde and Davies Nkausu have made two appearances each.
Goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, defender John Boye, midfielders Andre Ayew, Anthony Annan and Emmanuel Agyemang Badu and striker Asamoah Gyan are the six Black Stars who started against Botswana, Mali, Guinea and Tunisia.
Captain John Mensah scored the winner against Botswana but was also red-carded, ruling him out of the impressive win over Mali, and injury sidelined him for the Guinea game before he returned and scored against Tunisia.
Should Mensah be selected, his battle with rival captain Christopher Katongo is set to be a key clash in the struggle for victory and a final date against Didier Drogba-skippered Cote d’Ivoire or Seydou Keita-inspired Mali.
While Ghana boast footballers with Italian Serie A, German Bundesliga and French Ligue 1 clubs, Switzerland-based striker Emmanuel Mayuka is the only Zambian playing top-flight football in Europe.
But big names do not scare the Copper Bullets as they launched their campaign with a shock victory over a Senegalese squad that included Demba Ba and Papiss Demba Cisse of Newcastle United and Moussa Sow then of French champions Lille and now of Fenerbahce.
“We have no big names and our star is the team,” says Renard while Stevanovic counters that “we have a chance to win trophies because my players are fantastic professionals.”
Meanwhile Mali will have to defy history if they are to overcome the mighty Cote d’Ivoire.
The Ivorians have met Mali 21 times, winning 14 with the Eagles emerging victorious just the once, in a friendly back in 1995.
Twice their paths have crossed in the Nations Cup, with the Elephants prevailing 3-0 in the first round in Ghana in 2008 and 3-1 in the quarter-finals in 1994.
Yet Mali’s Keita, following the Henry Ford approach about history being “bunk”, dismissed the significance of the lopsided statistics, the Barcelona star saying: “The past? In football the past doesn’t count for anything.”
Keita’s return to the national team after a 20-month hiatus has proved instrumental in Mali’s progress at the 2012 cup.
He converted the decisive spot kick in Mali’s 5-4 penalty shootout defeat of co-hosts Gabon in Sunday’s quarter-final which had ended 1-1 after extra time. The 32-year-old veteran, reflecting on the Eagles’ presence in the last four, commented: “We deserve our qualification. Everything isn’t perfect, we’re not Barcelona nor Brazil but we’re in the semi-finals and we’ll play to our strengths. We have nothing to lose.”
Mali, after escaping from the first round as group runners-up to Ghana, know only too well they will have to raise their game to a higher level to topple the competition favourites.
Didier Drogba and company left their plush Equatorial Guinea base in Malabo to fly to the Gabonese capital Libreville on Sunday with a perfect four wins out of four.
The Ivorians’ results make seductive reading – eight goals to none conceded.
Coach Francois Zahoui has injected a newfound pragmatism in a side that for so many years has flattered to deceive, earning the unwanted tag of “chokers”.
Zahoui has come to this Nations Cup with the sole objective of claiming the title with the Jose Mourinho-style philosophy of the results justifying the means.
A style of play based on efficiency and economy has replaced the brilliance of before, and it has led them to within 90 minutes of the final.
Zahoui expressed satisfaction in seeing his side develop since their arrival.
“I’m extremely happy with the spirit of this team which moves forward and makes progress from match to match. we’ve got a side of mature players.”
Drogba, who missed a penalty then scored in the 3-0 quarter-final defeat of Equatorial Guinea on Saturday, commented: “In 2008 (Egypt beat them 4-1 in the semi-finals) we were dazzling, scoring lots of goals but we didn’t manage to get to the final.
“In 2006 we were in the final and we lost. Here, we are showing character.”
His Premier League colleague, Yaya Toure, added: “We know that defensively we have to be strong because offensively we have nothing to fear as we have super strikers.”
“We have two ‘finals’ to play, it’s going to be really tough but insh’allah we’ll make it,” the Manchester City midfielder added.
“We want to do something for our people. We want to reach the final and bring the cup back to our country.
“We must remain concentrated, but we’re ready both physically and mentally.
“Each morning when I wake up I see the cup, I think of nothing else.”
Fixtures
Zambia v Ghana 18:00, Estadio de Bata
Mali v Ivory Coast 21:00, Stade d’Angondje -Supersport.