SOCCER: Zambia coach makes belated debut after food poisoning

RABAT — Zambia coach Moses Sichone will finally take charge from the bench on Monday, marking his first match in charge after missing his debut last month.

Zambia face Mali in a Group A match of the Africa Cup of Nations in Casablanca, a day after tournament hosts Morocco opened the competition with a 2-0 victory over Comoros on Sunday in Rabat.

Sichone was appointed in November to replace Avram Grant, who stepped down in late October following a disappointing run of results in World Cup qualifying. His appointment came less than two months before the Africa Cup of Nations was set to begin in Morocco.

The former Bundesliga defender was unable to oversee Zambia’s recent warm-up matches after suffering from food poisoning. Sichone was confined to bed when Zambia played South Africa in a friendly and was later hospitalized as the team traveled to Angola for another preparatory game. -Writing by Mark Gleeson in Rabat; Editing by Ed Osmond/Reuters