By Kennedy Gondwe BBC Sport, Lusaka

Zambia will need to be in top form to qualify for the 2010 World Cup

Zambia coach Patrick Phiri is confident the Chipolopolo can overcome Togo and qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The southern Africans have been drawn in Group 11 with Togo who inflicted them with a 4-1 thrashing in the last qualifiers.

The Chipolopolo will also face Swaziland and Eritrea in the first round of the qualifying series that start in February.

But Phiri is undaunted about meeting Togo's Hawks, the group's toughest opponents.

"It's a fair draw, the most important thing is preparing adequately," he told BBC Sport.

"In the last qualifiers, we underrated Togo and we paid the price.

"This a different scenario and we are not going to repeat our mistake.

"Looking at the calibre of our players, I am confident Zambia can qualify for the World Cup."

Togo are the most disadvantaged of the 12 top seeds having to play all three home matches at neutral venues after recent crowd violence against Mali.

However, Togo coach Stephen Keshi remains determined to guide his side to their second World Cup qualification especially after missing out on next year's Africa Cup finals in Ghana.

"I respect Zambia because they have good players," said Keshi.

"Even during my playing days with the Nigerian national team, Zambia used to give us problems but this will be a different game.

"There are no longer underdogs in modern football. All teams are the same."

Despite the excitement surrounding Sunday's draw, Zambia, just like Togo, face the prospect of playing their home matches abroad.

The country's stadia are yet to be passed fit by football's governing body Fifa to host qualifying matches.

Independence stadium, the country's biggest arena is currently being refurbished.

Work should be completed in December 2008.

Konkola stadium, the only alternative venue, is yet to receive a Fifa nod after a stampede that claimed 12 lives in June after a Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo.