French top flight club Lille have swooped for Zambia's 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winner Stoppila Sunzu on a season-long loan from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua, the club announced Thursday.

The central defender, who scored the winning spot-kick in the 8-7 penalty shoot-out victory over Ivory Coast, previously played in France for Sochaux and links up again with former Zambia coach Herve Renard.

"This is very good news for me to join a club like Lille. I have known Herve Renard for a long time, his presence here was an important element in making my decision to commit myself to Lille. He is like a father to me," added Sunzu.

The 26-year-old was snapped up by Sochaux in January 2014, with Renard in charge, but Sunzu opted for a move to Shanghai after just one year.

But after making just 13 appearances in China, Sunzu returns to France to be reunited with Renard, who also coached him during Zambia's victorious Cup of Nations campaign.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)