The Chipolopolo Boys were placed in Group E, along with Morocco, Congo-Brazzaville, Tanzania, Niger, and Eritrea, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, which will take place from November 2023 to October 2025.
Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant admitted that the draw was tough especially because his team was placed in the same group as Africa’s first FIFA World Cup semifinalists, Morocco, but he was confident that his team would do their best and “try” to qualify.
Team captain Lubambo Musonda has also reacted, saying the Chipolopolo have what it takes to qualify from the group.
“It is a good challenge to have Morocco, who did so well in the last competition. We, however, have what it takes to qualify,” Musonda was quoted as saying by the Zambia Daily Mail newspaper.
The 28-year-old AC Horsens winger stated that the team has made tremendous progress. He added that he is confident his team will make the most of the qualifier games.
“The progress is there and the team is getting stronger and we hope to get the best out of the games.”
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Musonda believes that good preparation will determine how far they can advance in the World Cup qualifiers.
“It won’t be an easy journey, but it’s all about good preparations. As players, we will work hard and give our best in each game. For Zambia, our preparations started when we began the qualifiers for the 2023 Ivory Coast Africa Cup.
Zambia to seek revenge on Morocco
Zambia will seek revenge against Morocco in the qualifiers. They finished one point behind Morocco and thus missed out on qualification for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. This was after nearly the entire team was lost in a tragic air crash off the coast of Libreville, Gabon.
The Chipolopolo controversially lost 1-nil to Morocco in the final group match in the famous Gabon referee Jean-Fidèle Diramba (late) saga.
Morocco, however, will be optimistic about returning to the World Cup after becoming the first African country to reach the semifinals in Qatar.
