Zambia national football team explained

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.

History

Zambian Air Force Flight 319

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]

1994–2012

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

Kit providerPeriod
Adidas1993–1996
Puma1997–2000
Diadora2001–2002
Umbro2003
Nike2004–2015
Kappa2016
Mafro2017
KoPa2018–

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2025

Managers

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

Current squad

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.

Recent call-ups

The following players had been called up in 12 months preceding the above draft.

Notes

Player records

[5]

Players in bold are still active with Zambia.

Most appearances

RankPlayerAppsGoalsCareer
1Kennedy Mweene12222004–2021
2David Chabala11501983–1993
3Godfrey Chitalu111791968–1980
4Joseph Musonda10802002–2014
5Rainford Kalaba103152005–2018
Christopher Katongo103232003–2016
7Alex Chola102431975–1985
8Elijah Tana10141995–2009
9Derby Makinka98101985–1993
10Stoppila Sunzu9262008–present

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerGoalsAppsRatioCareer
1Godfrey Chitalu791111968–1980
2Alex Chola431021975–1985
3Kalusha Bwalya39871983–2004
4Bernard Chanda29681971–1980
5Christopher Katongo231032003–2016
6Collins Mbesuma22652003–2017
7Patson Daka21482015–present
Dennis Lota21781994–2002
9Kenneth Malitoli19801988–1999
10James Chamanga17632005–2015

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup recordQualification record
YearRoundPosition
1930 to 1962Not a FIFA memberNot a FIFA member
1966Did not enterDid not enter
1970Did not qualify2 1 0 1 6 6
197410 4 3 3 19 11
19786 3 1 2 9 5
19824 21 1 6 2
19866 2 1 3 8 6
19906 3 0 37 6
199485 1 2 17 5
199883 2 3 108
2002105 2 31611
2006127 2 32111
20101033446
201463 2 1 114
2018842 2 117
2022621389
2026To be determined410367
2030To be determined
2034
Total106482137159103

Africa Cup of Nations

See main article: Zambia at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Africa Cup of Nations record
YearRoundPosition
1957 to 1963Not affiliated to CAF
1965Did not enter
1968
1970Did not qualify
1972
1974Runners-up2nd530297
1976Did not qualify
1978Group stage5th 3 1 1 1 3 2
1980Did not qualify
1982Third place3rd530273
1984Did not qualify
1986Group stage7th3 0 1 2 2 4
1988Withdrew
1990Third place3rd531132
1992Quarter-finals 7th3 10212
1994Runners-up2nd531172
1996Third place3rd6411156
1998Group stage10th311146
2000Group stage13th302135
2002Group stage14th301213
2004Did not qualify
2006Group stage11th310236
20089th311156
2010Quarter-finals6th411255
2012Champions1st651093
2013Group stage12th303022
2015Group stage13th302123
2017Did not qualify
2019
2021
2023Group stage20th302123
2025To be determined
2027
Total1 title18/25692719238370

COSAFA Cup

See main article: COSAFA Cup.

YearCOSAFA Cup record
ResultPldWDLGFGA
1997Winners5320114
1998Winners532052
1999Semi-finals201112
2000Quarter-finals211030
2001Semi-finals312032
2002Semi-finals210131
2003Semi-finals211053
2004Runners-up321031
2005Runners-up421173
2006Winners440081
2007Runners-up211030
2008Third place311121
2009Runners-up320143
2013Winners321051
2015Quarter-finals311131
2016Quarter-finals101000
2017Runners-up320176
2018Runners-up311134
2019Winners321032
2021Group stage411234
2022Winners321064
2023Winners540195
2024Group stage300305
Total

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History of Zambian National Team . fazfootball.com . Football Association of Zambia . 29 October 2016 . 24 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190324233326/http://www.fazfootball.com/content/history-of-zambia-national-team . live .
  2. Zambia's remarkable journey makes them winners regardless . FourFourTwo . 12 February 2012 . 2 December 2013 . 28 June 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120628045205/http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/africacupofnations2012/archive/2012/02/12/zambia-s-remarkable-journey-makes-them-winners-regardless.aspx . live .
  3. Web site: CAF releases Top XI of Orange CAN . CAF Online . 18 October 2021 . 4 February 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100204125848/http://www.cafonline.com/competition/african-cup-of-nations-angola_2010/news/4614-caf-releases-top-11-of-orange-can.html . live .
  4. Web site: Final Squad . Facebook . Football Association of Zambia.
  5. Web site: Zambia – Record International Players . Jerry Muchimba and Roberto Mamrud . Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation . 1 January 2016 . 10 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220710163212/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/zam-recintlp.html . live .