Cameroon coach Hugo Broos is very wary of Zambia ahead of their battle for pride in their formality 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B qualifier on November 11 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Both teams are out of the race after Nigeria qualified with a match to spare on an unassailable 13 points leaving 2nd placed Zambia trailing on 7 points and Cameroon 3rd on 6 points.

Despite being crowned African champions in February this year, Cameroon have failed to convince in the 2018 Group B qualifiers.

The African champions salvaged a 1-1 home draw with Zambia on November 12, 2016 when Vincent Aboubakar equalised via a 45th minute penalty after Collins Mbesuma had put Zambia ahead in the 33rd minute.

Cameroon were later humiliated 4-0 away by Nigeria but got a1-1 home draw in Yaoundé in September before they beat bottom placed Algeria 2-0 at the same venue last month.

But a rejuvenated Zambia who had four 2017 U20 AFCON winning stars in their ranks, improved and beat Algeria 3-1 at home and 1-0 away in a September Group B doubleheader before losing 1-0 in Nigeria on October 7 in a match that looked destined for a draw rather than the final outcome.

“First of all there is a big difference between the Zambia team of November last year and the team today,” Broos said.

“There is a lot of progression. There are other players than in November last year that we saw during the qualification. There was progression they were getting better and better with every game.

“With us, it was ‘just the other thing’. We didn’t reach our level until that disaster against us, but after that game we improved against Algerian. Slowly we are improving.

“But it will be a tough game because the progression that Zambia has made since last year is very big.

“But little by little we are improving and we will give it our best shot.”

Meanwhile, Zambia are boosted by the return of striker Patson Daka after missing the Nigeria loss due to injury while his fellow Under-20 star Edward Chilufya is set for his senior debut.

However, coach Wedson Nyirenda will not be with key players namely Simon Silwimba and midfielder Kondwani Mtonga.

Both will miss the match due to injuries sustained in league action at Zesco earlier this month.