Zambia national football team
The Zambia national football team represents Zambia in men's international association football and it 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, the "Copper Bullets".,[2] The team has three Africa Cup of Nations final appearances to its credit, winning the 2012 tournament with victory over Ivory Coast in 2012 Africa Cup of Nations final, The team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals, The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).
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Nickname(s) | Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets) | |||
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Association | Football Association of Zambia | |||
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | |||
Sub-confederation | COSAFA (Southern Africa) | |||
Head coach | Milutin Sredojević | |||
Captain | Augustine Mulenga | |||
Most caps | Kennedy Mweene (121) | |||
Top scorer | Godfrey Chitalu (79) | |||
Home stadium | National Heroes Stadium | |||
FIFA code | ZAM | |||
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FIFA ranking | ||||
Current | 90 ![]() | |||
Highest | 15 (February – May 1996, August 1996) | |||
Lowest | 102 (February 2011) | |||
First international | ||||
![]() ![]() (Southern Rhodesia; 1946) | ||||
Biggest win | ||||
![]() ![]() (Lusaka, Zambia; 5 February 1978) ![]() ![]() (Lilongwe, Malawi; 13 November 1978) ![]() ![]() (8 August 1988) | ||||
Biggest defeat | ||||
![]() ![]() (DR Congo; 22 November 1969) ![]() ![]() (Brussels, Belgium; 3 June 1994) | ||||
Africa Cup of Nations | ||||
Appearances | 17 (first in 1974) | |||
Best result | Champions, 2012 |
After the departure of George Lwandamina in 2016, Wedson Nyirenda was appointed interim coach. In January 2017 Nyirenda was appointed on a permanent basis. On 6 July 2018, FAZ announced the appointment of Sven Vandenbroeck as their new coach. The 38-year-old Belgian replaced Nyirenda who resigned two months earlier to join South African side Baroka FC.
Gabon air disaster
On 27 April 1993, a Zambian Air Force Buffalo DHC-5D which was carrying the team to Senegal for a 1994 World Cup qualification match crashed, killing all 30 passengers, including 18 players and a number of coaches.[3]
Honours
Competitive record
World Cup record
When the former British colony of Northern Rhodesia, Zambia did not participate in World Cup qualification play until after its independence in 1964. The country's football association was formed in 1929 and joined FIFA in 1964.
FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup qualification record | ||||||||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
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Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||
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10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 11 | |||||||||
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6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 5 | |||||||||
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4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | |||||||||
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6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 6 | |||||||||
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6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | |||||||||
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8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 5 | |||||||||
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8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 8 | |||||||||
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10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 11 | |||||||||
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13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 11 | |||||||||
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10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | |||||||||
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6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 4 | |||||||||
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8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 | |||||||||
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To be determined | To be determined | |||||||||||||
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Total | – | 0/21 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 97 | 45 | 22 | 30 | 145 | 88 |
Africa Cup of Nations record
Africa Cup of Nations record | ||||||||
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Host nation(s) / Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
![]() ![]() | Not affiliated to CAF | |||||||
![]() | Did not enter | |||||||
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![]() | Did not qualify | |||||||
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Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 7 |
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Group stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Third place | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Group stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
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Withdrew | |||||||
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Third place | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
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Quarter-finals | 7th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
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Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 |
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Third place | 3rd | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 6 |
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Group stage | 10th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
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13th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | |
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14th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Group stage | 11th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
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9th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | |
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Quarter-finals | 7th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
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Champions | 1st | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 |
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Group stage | 12th | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
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13th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
![]() | Did not qualify | |||||||
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To be determined | |||||||
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To be determined | |||||||
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To be determined | |||||||
Total | 1 Title | 17/32 | 66 | 27 | 18 | 22 | 81 | 67 |
African Games
- Football at the African Games has been an under-23 tournament since 1991.
African Games record | ||||||||
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Year | Result | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA | |
![]() | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
![]() | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
![]() | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
![]() | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
1991–present | See Zambia national under-23 football team | |||||||
Total | 4/4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Gossage Cup / CECAFA Cup
CECAFA Cup Record | ||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D * | L | GF | GA |
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Group Stage | 5th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
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Third Place | 3rd | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
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Group Stage | 6th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
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Group Stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
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Group Stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
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Did not enter | |||||||
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Fourth Place | 4th | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
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Group Stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
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Group Stage | 8th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
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Fourth Place | 4th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
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Group Stage | 8th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
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Group Stage | 8th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
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Did not enter | |||||||
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Fourth Place | 4th | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
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Group Stage | 7th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
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Group Stage | 6th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
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Fourth Place | 4th | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
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Group Stage | 7th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
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Group Stage | 8th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
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Did not enter | |||||||
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Champions | 1st | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
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Group Stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
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Group Stage | 10th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
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Did not enter | |||||||
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Group Stage | 10th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
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Group Stage | 7th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
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Group Stage | 5th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
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Group Stage | 7th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 11 |
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Third Place | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
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Group Stage | 9th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
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Quarter-Finals | 7th | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
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Group Stage | 8th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
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Third Place | 3rd | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
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Quarter-Finals | 7th | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
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Quarter-Finals | 7th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
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Third Place | 3rd | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
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Group Stage | 9th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
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Group Stage | 10th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
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Runners-Up | 2nd | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 |
Total | 34/38 | 1 Title | 121 | 29 | 31 | 61 | 99 | 181 |
COSAFA Cup
COSAFA Cup Record | ||||||||
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Year | Rank | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
1998 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2002 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2003 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2004 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2005 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2006 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2007 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 0/19 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Recent schedule and results
The following is a list of match results from the previous 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss
2020
7 October Friendly | Zambia ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Lusaka, Zambia |
15:00 UTC+2 |
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Stadium: National Heroes Stadium Referee: Audrick Nkole (Zambia) |
9 October Friendly | Kenya ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() | Nairobi, Kenya |
15:00 UTC+2 |
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Stadium: Nyayo National Stadium Referee: Anthony Ogwajo (Kenya) |
11 October Friendly | South Africa ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() | Rustenburg, South Africa |
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Stadium: Royal Bafokeng Stadium |
22 October Friendly | Ethiopia ![]() | 2–3 | ![]() | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
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Stadium: Addis Ababa Stadium |
25 October Friendly | Ethiopia ![]() | 1–3 | ![]() | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
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Stadium: Addis Ababa Stadium |
Players
Current squad
- The following players were called up for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification against Botswana on 12 and 16 November 2020.
- Caps and goals are correct as of 16 November 2020, after the match against Botswana.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
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1 | GK | Sebastian Mwange | 18 December 1991 | 11 | 0 | ![]() |
– | GK | Cyril Chibwe | 17 June 1993 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
– | GK | Lameck Siame | 9 July 1997 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
3 | DF | Tandi Mwape | 20 July 1996 | 10 | 0 | ![]() |
5 | DF | Luka Banda | 6 April 1995 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
23 | DF | Zakaria Chilongoshi | 27 October 1999 | 9 | 0 | ![]() |
– | DF | Kondwani Chiboni | Unknown | 5 | 0 | ![]() |
2 | MF | Leonard Mulenga | 26 November 1997 | 7 | 0 | ![]() |
8 | MF | Lubambo Musonda | 1 March 1995 | 29 | 2 | ![]() |
11 | MF | Enock Mwepu | 1 January 1998 | 17 | 3 | ![]() |
14 | MF | Collins Sikombe | 19 June 1997 | 13 | 4 | ![]() |
15 | MF | Kelvin Kapumbu | 6 April 1996 | 10 | 0 | ![]() |
20 | MF | Gamphani Lungu | 19 August 1998 | 7 | 0 | ![]() |
22 | MF | Kings Kangwa | 6 April 1999 | 7 | 1 | ![]() |
– | MF | Bruce Musakanya | 23 February 1994 | 30 | 4 | ![]() |
– | MF | Benson Sakala | 12 September 1996 | 22 | 0 | ![]() |
– | MF | Kelvin Kampamba | 24 November 1996 | 17 | 3 | ![]() |
– | MF | Amity Shamende | 4 August 1993 | 6 | 1 | ![]() |
10 | FW | Fashion Sakala | 14 March 1997 | 13 | 1 | ![]() |
12 | FW | Justin Shonga | 5 November 1996 | 29 | 13 | ![]() |
13 | FW | Emmanuel Chabula | 10 January 1998 | 15 | 9 | ![]() |
19 | FW | Augustine Mulenga | 17 January 1990 | 29 | 5 | ![]() |
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up for Zambia in the last 12 months.[4]
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
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GK | Jackson Kakunta | 24 October 1998 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Dominic Chanda | 26 February 1996 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Kabaso Chongo | 11 February 1992 | 39 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Godfrey Ngwenya | 22 June 1996 | 8 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Chaniza Zulu | 27 July 1996 | 6 | 1 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Larry Bwalya | 29 May 1995 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Evans Kangwa | 21 June 1994 | 28 | 4 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Edward Chilufya | 17 September 1999 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
- Notes
- DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up.
- INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
- PRE Preliminary Squad.
- RET Player has retired from international football.
- SUS Suspended from the national team.
Records
- As of 25 November 2018[5]
- Players in bold are still active at international level.
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Managers
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References
- "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- "History of Zambian National Team". fazfootball.com. Football Association of Zambia. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- "Zambia's remarkable journey makes them winners regardless". FourFourTwo. 12 February 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- "ZAMBIA PICKS 9 FOREIGN BASED PLAYERS". Retrieved 30 August 2019.
- Jerry Muchimba and Roberto Mamrud. "Zambia – Record International Players". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
External links
- Zambia at FIFA.com
- Zambian Football Association official website
- ZambianFootball.net