Zambia national football team
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates
{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox national football team with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 2ndRegional cup apps | 2ndRegional cup best | 2ndRegional cup first | 2ndRegional name | 3rdRegional cup apps | 3rdRegional cup best | 3rdRegional cup first | 3rdRegional name | 4thRegional cup apps | 4thRegional cup best | 4thRegional cup first | 4thRegional name | American | Association | Badge | Badge_size | body1 | body2 | body3 | BSWW Rank | Captain | Coach | Confederation | Confederations cup apps | Confederations cup best | Confederations cup first | Current | date | Elo max | Elo max date | Elo max year | Elo min | Elo min date | Elo min year | Elo Rank | FIFA max | FIFA max date | FIFA max year | FIFA min | FIFA min date | FIFA min year | FIFA Rank | FIFA Trigramme | filetype | filetype1 | filetype2 | filetype3 | First game | Home Stadium | Largest loss | Largest win | Last game | leftarm1 | leftarm2 | leftarm3 | medaltemplates | medaltemplates-expand | Most caps | Name | Nickname | Only game | Other-affiliation | pattern_b1 | pattern_b2 | pattern_b3 | pattern_la1 | pattern_la2 | pattern_la3 | pattern_name1 | pattern_name2 | pattern_name3 | pattern_ra1 | pattern_ra2 | pattern_ra3 | pattern_sh1 | pattern_sh2 | pattern_sh3 | pattern_so1 | pattern_so2 | pattern_so3 | Regional cup apps | Regional cup best | Regional cup first | Regional name | rightarm1 | rightarm2 | rightarm3 | shorts1 | shorts2 | shorts3 | socks1 | socks2 | socks3 | Sub-confederation | Top scorer | Type | type | U17WC apps | U17WC best | U17WC first | U20WC apps | U20WC best | U20WC first | UEFAu21Champ apps | UEFAu21Champ best | UEFAu21Champ first | Upright |website | World cup apps | World cup best | World cup first }} The Zambia national football team represents Zambia in men's 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".<ref name="FAZ history">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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
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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.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
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 they won their first title, after defeating them in a dramatic Penalty shootout after a 0–0 draw after extra time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Kit provider
| Kit provider | Period |
|---|---|
| Template:Flagicon Adidas | 1993–1996 |
| Template:Flagicon Puma | 1997–2000 |
| Template:Flagicon Diadora | 2001–2002 |
| Template:Flagicon Umbro | 2003 |
| Template:Flagicon Nike | 2004–2015 |
| Template:Flagicon Kappa | 2016 |
| Template:Flagicon Mafro | 2017 |
| Template:Flagicon KoPa | 2018–2025 |
| Template:FlagAdidas | 2026- |
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. Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2
2024
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2025
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Managers
- Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
- Template:Flagicon Ted Virba (1978)
- Template:Flagicon Brian Tiler (1978–80)
- Template:Flagicon Ted Dumitru (1980–81)
- Template:Flagicon Ante Bušelić (1981–82)
- Template:Flagicon Bill McGarry (1982–83)
- Template:Flagicon Wieslaw Grabowski (1983–84)
- Template:Flagicon Jeff Butler (1984)
- Template:Flagicon Roy Mulenga (1984)
- Template:Flagicon Brightwell Banda (1984–86)
- Template:Flagicon Samuel Ndhlovu (1987–92)
- Template:Flagicon Moses Simwala (1993)
- Template:Flagicon Godfrey Chitalu (1993)
- Template:Flagicon Roald Poulsen (1993–94)
- Template:Flagicon Ian Porterfield (1994)
- Template:Flagicon Roald Poulsen (1994–96)
- Template:Flagicon Freddie Mwila (1996–97)
- Template:Flagicon George Mungwa (1997)
- Template:Flagicon Burkhard Ziese (1997–98)
- Template:Flagicon George Mungwa (1998)
- Template:Flagicon Obby Kapita (1998)
- Template:Flagicon Fighton Simukonda (1998)
- Template:Flagicon Ben Bamfuchile (1999–2000)
- Template:Flagicon George Mungwa (2000)
- Template:Flagicon Jan Brouwer (2000–01)
- Template:Flagicon Roald Poulsen (2002)
- Template:Flagicon Patrick Phiri (2002–03)
- Template:Flagicon Kalusha Bwalya (2003–06)
- Template:Flagicon Patrick Phiri (2006–08)
- Template:Flagicon Hervé Renard (2008–10)
- Template:Flagicon Wedson Nyirenda & Template:Flagicon Honour Janza (2010)
- Template:Flagicon George Lwandamina (2010)
- Template:Flagicon Dario Bonetti (2010–11)
- Template:Flagicon Hervé Renard (2011–13)
- Template:Flagicon Patrice Beaumelle (2013–14)
- Template:Flagicon Honour Janza (2014–15)
- Template:Flagicon George Lwandamina (2015–16)
- Template:Flagicon Wedson Nyirenda (2016–18)
- Template:Flagicon Beston Chambeshi (2018)
- Template:Flagicon Sven Vandenbroeck (2018–19)
- Template:Flagicon Aggrey Chiyangi (2019–20)
- Template:Flagicon Milutin Sredojević (2020–21)
- Template:Flagicon Beston Chambeshi (2021–22)
- Template:Flagicon Aljoša Asanović (2022)
- Template:Flagicon Moses Sichone (2022)
- Template:Flagicon Avram Grant (2022–2025)
Template:Flag iconMoses Sichone (2025-present)Template:Div col end
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up for the friendly match against South Africa and Angola on 15 and 18 November 2025.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Caps and goals as of 25 March 2025, after the game against Russia.
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Recent call-ups
The following players had been called up in 12 months preceding the above draft. Template:Nat fs r start Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break
- Notes
- DEC Refused to join the team after the call-up.
- INJ Withdrew due to an injury.
- PRE Preliminary Squad.
- RET Retired from international association football.
- SUS Suspended from the team.
Player records
Template:Updated<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Players in bold are still active with Zambia.
Most appearances
| 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 | 97 | 6 | 2008–present |
Top goalscorers
| Rank | Player | Goals | Apps | Ratio | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Godfrey Chitalu | 79 | 111 | {{#expr:79/111 round 2}} | 1968–1980 |
| 2 | Alex Chola | 43 | 102 | {{#expr:43/102 round 2}} | 1975–1985 |
| 3 | Kalusha Bwalya | 39 | 87 | {{#expr:39/87 round 2}} | 1983–2004 |
| 4 | Bernard Chanda | 29 | 68 | {{#expr:29/68 round 2}} | 1971–1980 |
| 5 | Christopher Katongo | 23 | 103 | {{#expr:23/103 round 2}} | 2003–2016 |
| 6 | Collins Mbesuma | 22 | 65 | {{#expr:22/65 round 2}} | 2003–2017 |
| 7 | Patson Daka | 21 | 51 | {{#expr:21/51 round 2}} | 2015–present |
| Dennis Lota | 21 | 78 | {{#expr:21/78 round 2}} | 1994–2002 | |
| 9 | Kenneth Malitoli | 19 | 80 | {{#expr:19/80 round 2}} | 1988–1999 |
| 10 | James Chamanga | 17 | 63 | {{#expr:17/63 round 2}} | 2005–2015 |
Competitive record
FIFA World Cup
Africa Cup of Nations
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| Africa Cup of Nations record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip* | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip* | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | Template:Tooltip | ||
| Template:Flagicon 1957 to Template:Flagicon 1963 | Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF | ||||||||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1965 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1968 | ||||||||||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1970 | Did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 8 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1972 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | ||||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1974 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 7 | ||
| Template:Flagicon 1976 | Did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 6 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1978 | Group stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1* | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Template:Flagicon 1980 | Did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1982 | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | ||
| Template:Flagicon 1984 | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1986 | Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Template:Flagicon 1988 | Withdrew | Withdrew | ||||||||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 1990 | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | ||
| Template:Flagicon 1992 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 4 | ||
| Template:Flagicon 1994 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | ||
| Template:Flagicon 1996 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 2 | ||
| Template:Flagicon 1998 | Group stage | 10th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 3 | ||
| Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2000 | 13th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | |||
| Template:Flagicon 2002 | 14th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 6 | |||
| Template:Flagicon 2004 | Did not qualify | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 2006 | Group stage | 11th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 11 | ||
| Template:Flagicon 2008 | 9th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 3 | |||
| Template:Flagicon 2010 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 10 | ||
| Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2012 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 2 | ||
| Template:Flagicon 2013 | Group stage | 12th | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1* | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Template:Flagicon 2015 | 13th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | |||
| Template:Flagicon 2017 | Did not qualify | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 7 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 2019 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 7 | ||||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 2021 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 12 | ||||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 2023 | Group stage | 20th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 6 | ||
| Template:Flagicon 2025 | Qualified | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | |||||||||
| Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2027 | To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
| Template:Flagicon 2029 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 1 title | 19/35 | 69 | 27 | 19 | 23 | 83 | 70 | 148 | 77 | 32 | 39 | 212 | 126 | ||
COSAFA Cup
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| 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 |
| Template:Flagicon 2008 | Third place | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Template:Flagicon 2009 | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Template:Flagicon 2013 | Winners | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Template:Flagicon 2015 | Quarter-finals | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Template:Flagicon 2016 | Quarter-finals | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Template:Flagicon 2017 | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Template:Flagicon 2018 | Runners-up | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Template:Flagicon 2019 | Winners | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Template:Flagicon 2021 | Group stage | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Template:Flagicon 2022 | Winners | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
| Template:Flagicon 2023 | Winners | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 |
| Template:Flagicon 2024 | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Total | 7 titles | ||||||
Honours
Continental
- Africa Cup of Nations
- Template:Gold1 Champions (1): 2012
- Template:Silver2 Runners-up (2): 1974, 1994
- Template:Bronze3 Third place (3): 1982, 1990, 1996
- African Nations Championship
- Template:Bronze3 Third place (1): 2009
Regional
- COSAFA Cup
- CECAFA Cup
- Template:Gold1 Champions (2): 1984, 1991
- Template:Silver2 Runners-up (5): 1976, 1977, 1978, 1988, 2006
- Template:Bronze3 Third place (5): 1973s, 1974s, 1981, 1992, 2013
Awards
- African National Team of the Year (1): 2012
Summary
| Competition | Template:Gold1 | Template:Silver2 | Template:Bronze3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAF African Cup of Nations | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| CAF African Nations Championship | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
- Notes
- s Shared titles.
References
External links
- Zambian Sports & Football Website Template:Webarchive
- Zambia National Football official Template:Webarchive
- Zambia at FIFA.com (archived 11 June 2007)
Template:Africa Cup of Nations Winners Template:Zambia national football team Template:Navboxes Template:Navboxes Template:Football in Zambia {{#invoke:navbox|navbox | name = CAF teams | title = National football teams of Africa (CAF) |listclass = hlist |group1 = North Africa (UNAF) |list1 =
|group2 = West Africa (WAFU) |list2 =
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Cape Verde
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
|group3 = East Africa (CECAFA) |list3 =
|group4 = Central Africa (UNIFFAC) |list4 =
|group5 = Southern Africa (COSAFA) |list5 =
- Angola
- Botswana
- Comoros
- Eswatini
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Seychelles
- South Africa
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
|group6 = Non-regional Members |list6 =
|below= 1 Regional team, an associate member of CAF but not a member of FIFA
{{#invoke:portal-inline|main|size=tiny|Football in Africa}} }} Template:National sports teams of Zambia