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Zambia coach confident of soccer team's qualifying for Olympics

Xinhua, August 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Head coach of the Zambia under-23 national soccer team Fighton Simukonda has expressed confidence that the team will qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, the Zambia Daily Mail reported on Monday.

Zambia beat Cote d'Ivoire 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw over two legs.

"The team we have is capable of going to Brazil. I have no doubt about that. We will make it to Brazil next year and that is our focus," he was quoted as saying by the paper.

The top three teams at the 2015 Senegal Africa under-23 Championship finals will progress to the Olympic Games with the fourth finisher facing an Asian side in a playoff.

The Zambian trainer however expressed concern with his striking force, adding that he will now concentrate on sharpening the front line ahead of the finals.

Other teams that have qualified to the finals so far include Algeria, Egypt, South Africa and hosts Senegal. Endi