Kolkata: Coach Herve Renard, who guided Zambia to win their first Africa Cup last Sunday, has been given a three-year lucrative contract.

The Frenchman, who is the most sought-after coach in Africa after his team surprised bookmakers by winning the trophy, has been given a three-year extension by Zambia.

Renard is currently on a one-year contract.

Minister of Sports Chishimba Kambwili said the government and the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) have finalised the terms of contract and that the Frenchman will soon sign it, Xinhua reported.

He said the government and FAZ are confident that the 43-year-old Renard will be able to help Zambia qualify for the 2014 World Cup.

Renard quit Zambia after taking the team to the quarter-finals at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, but was re-engaged in October last year after Italian Dario Bonetti was fired.

The Frenchman has, however, said that despite receiving offers from elsewhere, he is still proud to be the coach of Zambia.

No gambling

The Ghana Football Association (GFA), meanwhile, has dismissed rumours that some players of the senior national team, the Black Stars, gambled during the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations.

"We wish to state categorically that no Black Stars player gambled during the tournament and the report has no basis in fact," the GFA was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

"We strongly urge the media to desist from spreading unsubstantiated rumours which could have far-reaching consequences," the GFA said, calling on Ghanaians to disregard such stories.