While the late Godfrey Chitalu is Zambia’s and Africa’s all-time leading international goal scorer with 79 goals, the prolific striker’s exploits at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) are underwhelming.
According to Transfermarket, Chitalu played in four Afcon tournaments and only scored once, in Zambia’s 3-1 Group A loss to Egypt in 1974, with former Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o holding the record for the most goals scored (18) in the competition.
Over a hundred Zambian players have participated in the AFCON since the country’s debut in 1974.
The Chipolopolo finished second on their debut in 1994 before winning the prestigious trophy in 2012.
After winning the tournament, Zambia finished the following two editions without recording a single victory before failing to qualify between 2017 and 2021.
The Chipolopolo will now be heading back to the AFCON next year in Ivory Coast for the 18th time.
Below are the country’s highest scorers at the competition.
5. DENNIS LOTA- 4 goals
Since his debut in 1995, the former Chipolopolo striker has made 78 appearances for Zambia and scored 21 international goals. He competed in the Afcon four times, in 1996, 1998, 2000, and 2002, scoring four goals for Zambia before retiring in 2001 at the age of 29.
4. JAMES CHAMANGA- 4 goals
With four goals in four Afcon appearances (2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012), the Red Arrows FC striker is Zambia’s fourth-highest scorer. Chamanga, who made his debut in 2005, is also the country’s ninth-all-time leading scorer, with 17 goals in 63 games.
3. EMMANUEL MAYUKA- 4 goals
The former Southampton FC player is only the second Zambian to win the Afcon Golden Boot. Mayuka competed in the Afcon tournaments in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2013. His breakthrough came in 2012, the same year Zambia won the trophy, when he scored three goals, one each against Senegal, against Libya, and against Ghana, to win the Golden Boot. He made his international debut in 2007 and went on to make 45 appearances, scoring nine goals.
2. CHRISTOPHER KATONGO- 7 goals
Katongo is widely regarded as one of Zambia’s greatest players, having led the Chipolopolo to their long-awaited Afcon victory in a tournament in which he scored the same number of goals (3) as the Golden Boot winner in 2012. The former BBC African Footballer of the Year Award winner scored seven goals in 17 Afcon games across five editions (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2013). He appeared in 103 games for Zambia and scored 23 goals in all competitions.
1. KALUSHYA BWALYA- 10 goals
Bwalya scored ten goals for Zambia in 23 Afcon games over six editions. He competed in the tournaments in 1986, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2000, and came close to winning it in 1994 when the Copper Bullets lost 2-1 to Nigeria in the final, just a year after Zambia lost the entire team in the 1993 Atlantic Ocean Gabon Air Crash.
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The 1988 French Magazine African Footballer of the Year Award winner is also the Zambia national team’s third-highest all-time goal scorer, with 39 goals in 87 appearances, trailing only Chitalu and Alex Chola, who scored 43 goals in 102 games.
