Zambia’s hopes for automatic qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup hang in the balance tonight as Morocco faces Tanzania in a crucial Group E match.

Zambia has been out of competitive action this international break as their opponents, Eritrea and Congo Brazzaville, pulled out and are serving a FIFA ban, respectively.

However, action in the group has continued, with Morocco having already faced Niger in a match they came from behind to win 2-1 and now are set to take on the Taifa Stars.

Both results in the match have a consequence as to where Zambia will finish in the group, despite Avram Grant’s side being out of action.

As they take on Russia in an international friendly this evening, Chipolopolo will have one ear to what is happening in Morocco.

Morocco leads the group with 12 points, nine more than Zambia, having played the same number of games. With three games to play, Zambia still has a mathematical chance to top the group.

However, that chance becomes slim should Morocco win, in that they will move to 15 points, meaning Zambia will have to win their remaining three games and hope the three teams above them lose all their last games.

Thus, a win for Morocco today will practically end Zambia’s hopes of topping the group; therefore, they will have to fight for a second–place finish that offers them a playoff position should they be among the four best runners-up across all nine groups.

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