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).

Zambia

Nickname(s)	Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets)
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
First colours Second colours Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current	90 (10 December 2020)[1]
Highest	15 (February – May 1996, August 1996)
Lowest	102 (February 2011)
First international
Southern Rhodesia 0–4 Northern Rhodesia (Southern Rhodesia; 1946)
Biggest win
Zambia 11–2 Swaziland  (Lusaka, Zambia; 5 February 1978)  Zambia 9–0 Kenya  (Lilongwe, Malawi; 13 November 1978)  Zambia 9–0 Lesotho  (8 August 1988)
Biggest defeat
DR Congo 10–1 Zambia  (DR Congo; 22 November 1969)  Belgium 9–0 Zambia  (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

Africa Cup of Nations

Champions: 2012

Runners-up: 1974, 1994

COSAFA Cup

Champions: 1997, 1998, 2006, 2013, 2019

Runners-up: 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2017, 2018

CECAFA Cup

Champions: 1984, 1991

Runners-up: 1976, 1977, 1978, 1988, 2006

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
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 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										13	7	4	2	21	11
2010										10	3	3	4	4	6
2014										6	3	2	1	11	4
2018										8	4	2	2	11	7
2022	To be determined									To be determined
2026
Total	–	0/21	–	–	–	–	–	–		97	45	22	30	145	88

Africa Cup of Nations record

Africa Cup of Nations record
Host nation(s) / Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
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		13th	3	0	2	1	3	5
2002		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	7th	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		13th	3	0	2	1	2	3
2017	Did not qualify
2019
2021	To be determined
2023	To be determined
2025	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
Year	Result	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
1965	-	0	0	0	0	0	0
1973	-	0	0	0	0	0	0
1978	-	0	0	0	0	0	0
1987	-	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
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D *	L	GF	GA
1973	Group Stage	5th	2	0	0	2	0	6
1974	Third Place	3rd	2	1	0	1	3	3
1975	Group Stage	6th	2	0	0	2	1	7
1976	Group Stage	6th	3	1	0	2	1	4
1977	Group Stage	6th	3	1	0	2	1	4
1978	Did not enter
1979	Fourth Place	4th	4	0	2	2	3	8
1980	Group Stage	5th	3	1	0	2	2	5
1981	Group Stage	8th	3	0	0	3	3	9
1982	Fourth Place	4th	4	1	1	2	3	8
1983	Group Stage	8th	3	0	1	2	3	6
1984	Group Stage	8th	3	0	0	3	1	4
1985	Did not enter
1987	Fourth Place	4th	5	1	2	2	2	3
1988	Group Stage	7th	3	1	0	2	1	3
1989	Group Stage	6th	3	0	2	1	0	1
1990	Fourth Place	4th	5	1	1	3	3	5
1991	Group Stage	7th	3	0	0	3	4	7
1992	Group Stage	8th	4	1	0	3	2	14
1994	Did not enter
1995	Champions	1st	5	3	1	1	5	4
1996	Group Stage	5th	3	1	1	1	3	3
1999	Group Stage	10th	2	0	1	1	1	3
2000	Did not enter
2001	Group Stage	10th	2	0	0	2	0	8
2002	Group Stage	7th	4	1	1	2	1	3
2003	Group Stage	5th	2	0	1	1	2	6
2004	Group Stage	7th	4	1	0	3	7	11
2005	Third Place	3rd	6	3	2	1	7	6
2006	Group Stage	9th	2	0	1	1	0	4
2007	Quarter-Finals	7th	3	1	2	0	5	3
2008	Group Stage	8th	4	1	1	2	3	5
2009	Third Place	3rd	6	2	2	2	6	3
2010	Quarter-Finals	7th	4	1	2	1	4	3
2011	Quarter-Finals	7th	4	1	1	2	5	4
2012	Third Place	3rd	6	1	4	1	5	6
2013	Group Stage	9th	3	1	0	2	3	6
2015	Group Stage	10th	3	1	0	2	3	6
2017	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
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
2008	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2009	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2013	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2015	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2016	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2017	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2018	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2019	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

12 March Friendly	Zambia	1–0	Malawi	Lusaka, Zambia
	Sikombe  21'			Stadium: National Heroes Stadium

7 October Friendly	Zambia	1–0	Malawi	Lusaka, Zambia
15:00 UTC+2	Sikombe  14'			Stadium: National Heroes Stadium Referee: Audrick Nkole (Zambia)

9 October Friendly	Kenya	2–1	Zambia	Nairobi, Kenya
15:00 UTC+2	Mwape  21' (o.g.) Nyakeya  36'		Chabula  81'	Stadium: Nyayo National Stadium Referee: Anthony Ogwajo (Kenya)

11 October Friendly	South Africa	1–2	Zambia	Rustenburg, South Africa
	Dolly  66'		Kampamba  78' Zulu  82'	Stadium: Royal Bafokeng Stadium

22 October Friendly	Ethiopia	2–3	Zambia	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
	Kebede  13' Tamene  41' (pen.)		Kampamba  40' Kangwanda  87', 90+3'	Stadium: Addis Ababa Stadium

25 October Friendly	Ethiopia	1–3	Zambia	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
	Kebede  87'		Chabula  15', 37' Sikombe  25'	Stadium: Addis Ababa Stadium

12 November 2021 AFCON Q	Zambia	2–1	Botswana	Lusaka, Zambia
18:00 UTC+2	Mwepu  45+1' Sikombe  66'	Report	Orebonye  45'	Stadium: National Heroes Stadium Referee: Jean-Jacques Ngambo (DR Congo)

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
1	GK	Sebastian Mwange	18 December 1991	11	0	Green Eagles
–	GK	Cyril Chibwe	17 June 1993	2	0	Polokwane City
–	GK	Lameck Siame	9 July 1997	1	0	Kabwe Warriors
3	DF	Tandi Mwape	20 July 1996	10	0	Mazembe
5	DF	Luka Banda	6 April 1995	8	0	NAPSA Stars
23	DF	Zakaria Chilongoshi	27 October 1999	9	0	Power Dynamos
–	DF	Kondwani Chiboni	Unknown	5	0	Power Dynamos
2	MF	Leonard Mulenga	26 November 1997	7	0	Green Buffaloes
8	MF	Lubambo Musonda	1 March 1995	29	2	Śląsk Wrocław
11	MF	Enock Mwepu	1 January 1998	17	3	Red Bull Salzburg
14	MF	Collins Sikombe	19 June 1997	13	4	NAPSA Stars
15	MF	Kelvin Kapumbu	6 April 1996	10	0	Zanaco
20	MF	Gamphani Lungu	19 August 1998	7	0	SuperSport United
22	MF	Kings Kangwa	6 April 1999	7	1	Arsenal Tula
–	MF	Bruce Musakanya	23 February 1994	30	4	Red Arrows
–	MF	Benson Sakala	12 September 1996	22	0	Power Dynamos
–	MF	Kelvin Kampamba	24 November 1996	17	3	ZESCO United
–	MF	Amity Shamende	4 August 1993	6	1	Green Eagles
10	FW	Fashion Sakala	14 March 1997	13	1	Oostende
12	FW	Justin Shonga	5 November 1996	29	13	Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila
13	FW	Emmanuel Chabula	10 January 1998	15	9	Nkwazi
19	FW	Augustine Mulenga	17 January 1990	29	5	Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila

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
GK	Jackson Kakunta	24 October 1998	3	0	Power Dynamos	v.  Ethiopia, 25 October 2020
DF	Dominic Chanda	26 February 1996	3	0	Kabwe Warriors	v.  Ethiopia, 25 October 2020
DF	Kabaso Chongo	11 February 1992	39	1	Mazembe	v.  Kenya, 9 October 2020
DF	Godfrey Ngwenya	22 June 1996	8	0	Power Dynamos	v.  Malawi, 7 October 2020
MF	Chaniza Zulu	27 July 1996	6	1	Lumwana Radiants	v.  Ethiopia, 25 October 2020
MF	Larry Bwalya	29 May 1995	6	0	Power Dynamos	v.  Malawi, 12 March 2020
FW	Evans Kangwa	21 June 1994	28	4	Arsenal Tula	v.  South Africa, 11 October 2020
FW	Edward Chilufya	17 September 1999	1	0	Djurgården	v.  Kenya, 9 October 2020

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.

Most appearances # Name Caps Goals Career 1 Kennedy Mweene 121 2 2004–2018 2 David Chabala 115 0 1983–1993 3 Godfrey Chitalu 111 79 1968–1980 4 Joseph Musonda 108 0 2002–2014 5 Christopher Katongo 103 23 2003–2016 Rainford Kalaba 15 2005–2018 7 Alex Chola 102 43 1975–1985 8 Elijah Tana 101 4 1995–2009 9 Derby Makinka 98 10 1985–1993 10 Kalusha Bwalya 87 39 1983–2004

Top Goalscorers # Name Goals Caps Ratio Career 1. Godfrey Chitalu 79 111 0.71 1968–1980 2. Alex Chola 43 102 0.42 1975–1985 3. Kalusha Bwalya 39 87 0.45 1983–2004 4. Bernard Chanda 29 68 0.43 1971–1980 5. Christopher Katongo 23 103 0.22 2003–2016 6. Collins Mbesuma 22 65 0.34 2003–2017 7. Dennis Lota 21 78 0.27 1994–2002 8. Kenneth Malitoli 19 80 0.24 1988–1999 9. James Chamanga 17 63 0.27 2005–2015 10. Rainford Kalaba 15 103 0.15 2005–2018

Managers

John Green Ante Bušelić (1971–76) Ted Virba (1977) Brian Tiler (1978–80) Ted Dumitru (1980–81) Ante Bušelić (1981–82) Bill McGarry (1982–83) Wieslaw Grabowski (1983–84) Jeff Butler (1984) Roy Mulenga (1984)

Brightwell Banda (1984–86) Samuel Ndhlovu (1987–92) Moses Simwala (1993) Godfrey Chitalu (1993) Roald Poulsen (1993–94) Ian Porterfield (1994) Roald Poulsen (1994–96) Freddie Mwila (1996–97) George Mungwa (1997, caretaker) Burkhard Ziese (1997–98)

George Mungwa (1998, caretaker) Obby Kapita (1998, caretaker) Fighton Simukonda (1998) Ben Bamfuchile (1999–00) George Mungwa (2000, caretaker) Jan Brouwer (2001) Roald Poulsen (2002) Patrick Phiri (2002–03) Kalusha Bwalya (2003–06) Patrick Phiri (2006–08)

Hervé Renard (2008–10) Dario Bonetti (2010–11) Hervé Renard (2011–2013) Patrice Beaumelle (2013–2014) Honour Janza (2014–2015) George Lwandamina (2015–2016) Wedson Nyirenda (2016–2018) Beston Chambeshi (2018) Sven Vandenbroeck (2018–2019) Aggrey Chiyangi (2019–2020) Milutin Sredojević (2020–)

References

1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
2. "History of Zambian National Team". fazfootball.com. Football Association of Zambia. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
3. "Zambia's remarkable journey makes them winners regardless". FourFourTwo. 12 February 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
4. "ZAMBIA PICKS 9 FOREIGN BASED PLAYERS". Retrieved 30 August 2019.
5. 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