Zambia | |
Badge Size: | 205px |
Nickname: | Bemba: Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets) |
Association: | Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) |
Confederation: | CAF (Africa) |
Captain: | Lubambo Musonda |
Most Caps: | Kennedy Mweene (122) |
Top Scorer: | Godfrey Chitalu (79) |
Home Stadium: | Levy Mwanawasa Stadium National Heroes Stadium |
Fifa Trigramme: | ZAM |
Fifa Max: | 15 |
Fifa Max Date: | February – May 1996, August 1996 |
Fifa Min: | 102 |
Fifa Min Date: | February 2011 |
Elo Max: | 27 |
Elo Max Date: | 6 April 1994 |
Elo Min: | 106 |
Elo Min Date: | October 2009 |
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First Game: | (Southern Rhodesia; 1946) |
Largest Win: | 11–2 (Lusaka, Zambia; 5 February 1978) 9–0 (Lilongwe, Malawi; 13 November 1978) 9–0 (Botswana; 8 August 1988) |
Largest Loss: | 10–1 (DR Congo; 22 November 1969) 9–0 (Brussels, Belgium; 3 June 1994) |
Regional Name: | Africa Cup of Nations |
Regional Cup Apps: | 18 |
Regional Cup First: | 1974 |
Regional Cup Best: | Champions (2012) |
2Ndregional Name: | COSAFA Cup |
2Ndregional Cup Apps: | 19 |
2Ndregional Cup First: | 1997 |
2Ndregional Cup Best: | Champions (1997, 1998, 2006, 2013, 2019, 2022, 2023) |
3Rdregional Name: | Four Nations Football Tournament |
3Rdregional Cup Apps: | 1 |
3Rdregional Cup First: | 2024 |
3Rdregional Cup Best: | Third place (2024) |
The Zambia national football team represents Zambia in association football and is governed by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). During the 1980s, they were known as the KK 11, after founding president Dr. Kenneth Kaunda ("KK") who ruled Zambia from 1964 to 1991. After the country adopted multiparty politics, the side was nicknamed Chipolopolo which means the "Copper Bullets".[1] The team won an Africa Cup of Nations title in 2012. This team has also become the most successful team in the COSAFA Cup, surpassing Zimbabwe after winning the 2023 edition.
See main article: 1993 Zambia national football team air disaster.
Tragedy struck the Zambian team when the military plane (REG: AF-319) transporting the team to Senegal for a 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier crashed late in the evening, on April 27, 1993. Three stops were planned for re-fuelling, but at the first stop, in Brazzaville, engine problems were noted on the Buffalo DHC-5D of the Zambia Air Force. Despite this, the flight continued, and a few minutes after take-off from Libreville, Gabon, where the second stopover had taken place, one of the engines caught fire and stopped. The pilot, who had already made a flight from Mauritius the day before, accidentally shut down the other engine, which was still running. The loss of power, during the climb after take-off, caused the plane to fall and crash into the water 500m off the coast. All 30 passengers and crew, including 18 players, were killed in the accident.[2]
On June 3, 1994, in Brussels, the Zambian football team succumbed to one of the worst losses in its history against Belgium, losing 9–0. At CAN 1996, they finished first in the group with two victories (5–1 against Burkina Faso, goals from Kenneth Malitoli, double from Kalusha Bwalya, goals from Dennis Lota and Johnson Bwalya); 4–0 against Sierra Leone (a hattrick from Kalusha Bwalya and goal from Mordon Malitoli) and a draw (0–0 against Algeria), beat Egypt (3–1) in the quarterfinals and loses in semis against Tunisia (2–4) but took third place over Ghana (1–0, goal from Johnson Bwalya). Kalusha Bwalya was the best in the competition with 5 goals. From 1998 to 2006, Zambia did not pass the first round, except in 2004 when they failed to qualify. On September 3, 2006, at home, Zambia achieved the biggest victory in its history against Djibouti, winning 10–0. During the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Zambia finished third in the group with a 3–0 victory against Sudan (goals by James Chamanga, Jacob Mulenga and Felix Katongo), a draw (1–1 against Egypt, goal from Chris Katongo) and loss (1–5 against Cameroon, goal from Chris Katongo). In 2010, Zambia finished first in her group and faced Nigeria in the quarter-finals where she lost on penalties. Jacob Mulenga and Emmanuel Mbola were included in the tournament's Best XI.In 2012, the best AFCON in Zambia history happened. During the tournament’s group stage, they defeated Senegal(2-1), drew with Libya (2-2), and defeated Equatorial Guinea (1-0), and qualified top of their group. During the knockout stage, Zambia defeated Sudan (3-0) in the Quarterfinals, beat Ghana in the semifinals (1-0) and went up against Ivory Coast in the final, where the won their first title, after defeating them in a dramatic Penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw after extra time.[3]
Kit provider | Period |
---|---|
Adidas | 1993–1996 |
Puma | 1997–2000 |
Diadora | 2001–2002 |
Umbro | 2003 |
Nike | 2004–2015 |
Kappa | 2016 |
Mafro | 2017 |
KoPa | 2018– |
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
The following players were called up for the 2024 COSAFA Cup.[4]
Caps and goals as of 27 June 2024, after the game against Kenya.
The following players had been called up in 12 months preceding the above draft.
Players in bold are still active with Zambia.
Rank | Player | Apps | Goals | Career | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kennedy Mweene | 122 | 2 | 2004–2021 | |
2 | David Chabala | 115 | 0 | 1983–1993 | |
3 | Godfrey Chitalu | 111 | 79 | 1968–1980 | |
4 | Joseph Musonda | 108 | 0 | 2002–2014 | |
5 | Rainford Kalaba | 103 | 15 | 2005–2018 | |
Christopher Katongo | 103 | 23 | 2003–2016 | ||
7 | Alex Chola | 102 | 43 | 1975–1985 | |
8 | Elijah Tana | 101 | 4 | 1995–2009 | |
9 | Derby Makinka | 98 | 10 | 1985–1993 | |
10 | Stoppila Sunzu | 92 | 6 | 2008–present |
Rank | Player | Goals | Apps | Ratio | Career | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Godfrey Chitalu | 79 | 111 | 1968–1980 | ||
2 | Alex Chola | 43 | 102 | 1975–1985 | ||
3 | Kalusha Bwalya | 39 | 87 | 1983–2004 | ||
4 | Bernard Chanda | 29 | 68 | 1971–1980 | ||
5 | Christopher Katongo | 23 | 103 | 2003–2016 | ||
6 | Collins Mbesuma | 22 | 65 | 2003–2017 | ||
7 | Patson Daka | 21 | 48 | 2015–present | ||
Dennis Lota | 21 | 78 | 1994–2002 | |||
9 | Kenneth Malitoli | 19 | 80 | 1988–1999 | ||
10 | James Chamanga | 17 | 63 | 2005–2015 |
FIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | |||||||||||||
1930 to 1962 | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | |||||||||||||
1966 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
1970 | Did not qualify | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||
1974 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 11 | |||||||||
1978 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 5 | |||||||||
1982 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | |||||||||
1986 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 6 | |||||||||
1990 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | |||||||||
1994 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 5 | |||||||||
1998 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 8 | |||||||||
2002 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 11 | |||||||||
2006 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 11 | |||||||||
2010 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | |||||||||
2014 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 4 | |||||||||
2018 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 | |||||||||
2022 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 9 | |||||||||
2026 | To be determined | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 7 | ||||||||
2030 | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
2034 | |||||||||||||||
Total | 106 | 48 | 21 | 37 | 159 | 103 |
See main article: Zambia at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Africa Cup of Nations record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | |||||||
1957 to 1963 | Not affiliated to CAF | ||||||||
1965 | Did not enter | ||||||||
1968 | |||||||||
1970 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
1972 | |||||||||
1974 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 7 | |
1976 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
1978 | Group stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | |
1980 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
1982 | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3 | |
1984 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
1986 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
1988 | Withdrew | ||||||||
1990 | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | |
1992 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
1994 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 | |
1996 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 6 | |
1998 | Group stage | 10th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | |
2000 | Group stage | 13th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | |
2002 | Group stage | 14th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
2004 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
2006 | Group stage | 11th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
2008 | 9th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | ||
2010 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | |
2012 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | |
2013 | Group stage | 12th | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
2015 | Group stage | 13th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
2017 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
2019 | |||||||||
2021 | |||||||||
2023 | Group stage | 20th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
2025 | To be determined | ||||||||
2027 | |||||||||
Total | 1 title | 18/25 | 69 | 27 | 19 | 23 | 83 | 70 |
See main article: COSAFA Cup.
Year | COSAFA Cup record | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Result | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
1997 | Winners | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 4 | |
1998 | Winners | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | |
1999 | Semi-finals | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
2000 | Quarter-finals | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
2001 | Semi-finals | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | |
2002 | Semi-finals | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |
2003 | Semi-finals | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | |
2004 | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
2005 | Runners-up | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | |
2006 | Winners | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |
2007 | Runners-up | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
2008 | Third place | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
2009 | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | |
2013 | Winners | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
2015 | Quarter-finals | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |
2016 | Quarter-finals | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2017 | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 | |
2018 | Runners-up | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
2019 | Winners | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | |
2021 | Group stage | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
2022 | Winners | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | |
2023 | Winners | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | |
2024 | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |
Total |