Zambia national football team

History

Zambian Air Force Flight 319

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.

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.

Kit provider

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

• Glushenkov
• Vakhaniya
• Batrakov
• Kgamanyane
• Semadi
• Maponda
• Zulu
• Sinkala
• Jo. Phiri
• En-Nesyri
• Igamane
• Sakala
• Sosah
• Appollis
• Nkota
• Sithole
• Sabobo
• Milson
• Luvumbo
• Mabululu
• Lahne
• F. Sakala
• Bushiri
• Díaz

Managers

:Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

• ZAM Ted Virba (1978)
• ENG Brian Tiler (1978–80)
• ROM Ted Dumitru (1980–81)
• YUG Ante Bušelić (1981–82)
• ENG Bill McGarry (1982–83)
• POL Wieslaw Grabowski (1983–84)
• ENG Jeff Butler (1984)
• ZAM Roy Mulenga (1984)
• ZAM Brightwell Banda (1984–86)
• ZAM Samuel Ndhlovu (1987–92)
• ZAM Moses Simwala (1993)
• ZAM Godfrey Chitalu (1993)
• DEN Roald Poulsen (1993–94)
• SCO Ian Porterfield (1994)
• DEN Roald Poulsen (1994–96)
• ZAM Freddie Mwila (1996–97)
• ZAM George Mungwa (1997)
• GER Burkhard Ziese (1997–98)
• ZAM George Mungwa (1998)
• ZAM Obby Kapita (1998)
• ZAM Fighton Simukonda (1998)
• ZAM Ben Bamfuchile (1999–2000)
• ZAM George Mungwa (2000)
• NED Jan Brouwer (2000–01)
• DEN Roald Poulsen (2002)
• ZAM Patrick Phiri (2002–03)
• ZAM Kalusha Bwalya (2003–06)
• ZAM Patrick Phiri (2006–08)
• FRA Hervé Renard (2008–10)
• ZAM Wedson Nyirenda & ZAM Honour Janza (2010)
• ZAM George Lwandamina (2010)
• ITA Dario Bonetti (2010–11)
• FRA Hervé Renard (2011–13)
• FRA Patrice Beaumelle (2013–14)
• ZAM Honour Janza (2014–15)
• ZAM George Lwandamina (2015–16)
• ZAM Wedson Nyirenda (2016–18)
• ZAM Beston Chambeshi (2018)
• BEL Sven Vandenbroeck (2018–19)
• ZAM Aggrey Chiyangi (2019–20)
• SRB Milutin Sredojević (2020–21)
• ZAM Beston Chambeshi (2021–22)
• CRO Aljoša Asanović (2022)
• ZAM Moses Sichone (2022)
• ISR Avram Grant (2022–2025)
• ZAMMoses Sichone (2025-present)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations between 21 December 2025 and 18 January 2026.

Caps and goals as of 29 December 2025, after the game against Morocco.

Recent call-ups

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

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Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

Africa Cup of Nations

Main article: Zambia at the Africa Cup of Nations

COSAFA Cup

Main article: COSAFA Cup

Honours

Continental

• Africa Cup of Nations
  • Champions (1): 2012
  • Runners-up (2): 1974, 1994
  • Third place (3): 1982, 1990, 1996
• African Nations Championship
  • Third place (1): 2009

Regional

• COSAFA Cup
  • Champions (7): 1997, 1998, 2006, 2013, 2019, 2022, 2023
  • Runners-up (6): 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2017, 2018
  • Third place (1): 2008
• CECAFA Cup
  • Champions (2): 1984, 1991
  • Runners-up (5): 1976, 1977, 1978, 1988, 2006
  • Third place (5): 1973, 1974, 1981, 1992, 2013

Awards

• African National Team of the Year (1): 2012

Summary

;Notes:

• Shared titles.

References

References

1. "History of Zambian National Team". Football Association of Zambia.
2. (12 February 2012). "Zambia's remarkable journey makes them winners regardless".
3. "CAF releases Top XI of Orange CAN".
4. (10 December 2025). "Chipolopolo coach Moses Sichone has named his final 28-man squad for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco". Football Association of Zambia.
5. Jerry Muchimba and Roberto Mamrud. "Zambia – Record International Players". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.