Despite making 18 appearances in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and winning three bronze, one silver, and one gold medal, Zambia is one of the most successful teams on the continent, yet they still haven’t qualified for the FIFA World Cup, which remains a pipe dream.
With Africa’s spots increased from five to nine for the next World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada in 2026, Zambia was placed in Group E for the qualifying phase alongside Morocco, Africa’s top-ranked nation, which advanced to the semifinals of the 2022 edition in Qatar. The group also includes Eritrea, who withdrew, Congo Brazzaville, Tanzania, and Niger.
After four qualification matches, the Chipolopolo only managed three points out of a possible 12. They defeated Congo 4-2 before losing 2-1 to Niger, 2-1 to Morocco, and 1-0 to Tanzania.
The Chipolopolo Boys will play Congo away on March 22nd next year, followed by a home game against Morocco in September. They will end their campaign with an away match against Tanzania in October before hosting Niger.
How Can Zambia Qualify?
Zambia’s coach, Avram Grant, before the qualifiers began admitted that finishing second was the most realistic target in the group.
“I think we can qualify for the playoffs of the World Cup… And I think the team is more experienced now,” he told reporters after Zambia’s loss to Morocco at the AFCON in San Pedro in January.
However, after three losses and just four games remaining in the qualifiers, even qualifying for the playoffs may now be difficult for Grant’s side but he is still optimistic.
“I think we have a chance also if we win all the games, then we can do that [qualify],” Grant told reporters on November 15 after beating Ivory Coast in Ndola to qualify the Chipolopolo for the 2025 AFCON.
Morocco is the odds-on favourite to win the group and qualify for the World Cup, having already accumulated nine points from three games. Zambia, with three points, trails Niger and Tanzania, both of which have six points.
The top finisher in each of the nine groups will qualify for the World Cup, but the qualifiers will feature a second round with the four best runners-up facing off in two one-off semi-finals, followed by a final. The winner of this second round will compete in the FIFA Play-Off Tournament for a spot in the World Cup.
Knowing that Morocco would most certainly win the group, Zambia will try to redeem themselves by finishing second, but their chances of being one of the four best runners-up will be determined by how teams in other groups perform.
Can the Chipolopolo qualify for the World Cup? That remains to be seen.
