Former Nigeria midfielder Garba Lawal is backing 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winners Zambia to win a second successive title despite their poor form in recent warm-up matches.
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In their last four games in preparation for the AFCON, Zambia lost to Tanzania and Angola, drew with Morocco and also failed to score against an under strength Norway side.
The Super Eagles, whom Lawal represented at four AFCON tournaments, are in Group C with Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.
Lawal feels that Chipolopolo's poor form in the lead-up to the tournament proper is not necessarily a bad thing.
"Last year they won the Nations Cup. And before they won it, the Super Eagles defeated them 2-0 in Kaduna in 2011," Lawal recalled their warm-up match.
"At that time no one gave them a chance but they went on to win it. So I refuse to be carried away by their poor results in friendly matches and the Super Eagles too shouldn't be carried away that they will find the Zambians easy," he told channelstv.com.
"Honestly I refuse to overlook the Zambians just because they have not done well in their friendly matches. Anyone writing them off because of the results in their recent friendly matches should have a re-think," warned the former midfielder.
Zambia's title defence begins on January 21st against Ethiopia; four days later they face Nigeria and then take on Burkina Faso all at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
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