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Zambia national football team facts for kids

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Zambia
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets)
Association Football Association of Zambia (FAZ)
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation COSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coach Avram Grant
Captain Lubambo Musonda
Most caps Kennedy Mweene (122)
Top scorer Godfrey Chitalu (79)
Home stadium Levy Mwanawasa Stadium
National Heroes Stadium
FIFA code ZAM
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 82 Increase 1 (7 February 2019)
Highest 15 (February – May 1996, August 1996)
Lowest 102 (February 2011)
Elo ranking
Current 101 Decrease 19 (3 March 2019)
Highest 27 (6 April 1994)
Lowest 106 (October 2009)
First international
 Southern Rhodesia 0–4 Northern Rhodesia 
(Southern Rhodesia; 1946)
Biggest win
 Zambia 11–2 Swaziland 
(Lusaka, Zambia; 5 February 1978)
 Zambia 9–0 Kenya 
(Lilongwe, Malawi; 13 November 1978)
 Zambia 9–0 Lesotho 
(Botswana; 8 August 1988)
Biggest defeat
 DR Congo 10–1 Zambia 
(DR Congo; 22 November 1969)
 Belgium 9–0 Zambia 
(Brussels, Belgium; 3 June 1994)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances 19 (first in 1974)
Best result Champions (2012)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances 19 (first in 1997)
Best result Champions (1997, 1998, 2006, 2013, 2019, 2022, 2023)
Four Nations Football Tournament
Appearances 1 (first in 2024)
Best result Third place (2024)
Medal record
CAF Africa Cup of Nations
Gold 2012 Gabon and Equatorial Guinea Team
Silver 1974 Egypt Team
Silver 1994 Tunisia Team
Bronze 1982 Libya Team
Bronze 1990 Algeria Team
Bronze 1996 South Africa Team
CAF African Nations Championship
Bronze 2009 Ivory Coast Team
COSAFA Cup
Gold 1997 Southern Africa
Gold 1998 Southern Africa
Gold 2006 Southern Africa
Gold 2013 Zambia Team
Gold 2019 South Africa
Gold 2023 South Africa
Silver 2004 Southern Africa
Silver 2005 Southern Africa
Silver 2007 Southern Africa
Silver 2009 Zimbabwe
Silver 2017 South Africa
Silver 2018 South Africa
Bronze 2008 South Africa
CECAFA Cup
Gold 1984 Uganda
Gold 1991 Uganda
Silver 1976 Zanzibar
Silver 1977 Somalia
Silver 1978 Malawi
Silver 1988 Malawi
Silver 2006 Ethiopia
Bronze 1981 Tanzania
Bronze 1992 Tanzania
Bronze 2013 Kenya

The Zambia national football team represents Zambia in association football. The team is managed by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). They are often called Chipolopolo, which means "The Copper Bullets".

The team won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012. They are also the most successful team in the COSAFA Cup. They won the 2023 edition, beating Zimbabwe's record.

History of the Team

A Sad Day in 1993

A terrible event happened to the Zambian team on April 27, 1993. A military plane carrying the team to a World Cup qualifier crashed. This happened after taking off from Libreville, Gabon. All 30 people on board, including 18 players, lost their lives. It was a very sad day for Zambian football.

From 1994 to 2012: Rising Up

After the tragedy, the team worked hard to rebuild. In 1996, they finished third in the Africa Cup of Nations. Star player Kalusha Bwalya scored 5 goals in that tournament.

Zambia didn't do as well in the Africa Cup of Nations from 1998 to 2006. However, on September 3, 2006, they achieved their biggest win ever. They beat Djibouti 10–0 at home.

In 2012, Zambia had their best Africa Cup of Nations ever. They won their group by beating Senegal and Equatorial Guinea. They also drew with Libya. In the knockout rounds, they defeated Sudan and Ghana. They reached the final against Ivory Coast. After a 0–0 draw, Zambia won their first title in a dramatic Penalty shootout.

Team Kit Providers

Match Zambie Vs Tanzanie, CAN 2023 15
The national football team of Zambia faced Tanzania in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
Kit provider Period
Germany Adidas 1993–1996
Germany Puma 1997–2000
Italy Diadora 2001–2002
England Umbro 2003
United States Nike 2004–2015
Italy Kappa 2016
Singapore Mafro 2017
Zambia KoPa 2018–

Recent Matches and Future Games

The Zambian team has played several matches recently. In 2024, they played in the World Cup qualifiers and the 2024 COSAFA Cup. They also played in the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers. They won against Sierra Leone, Chad, and Ivory Coast in the AFCON qualifiers.

Looking ahead to 2025, Zambia has more matches scheduled. These include friendly games and more World Cup and COSAFA Cup qualifiers. They have also qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Team Managers

Aljosa Asanovic
Aljoša Asanović coached the national football team of Zambia
Avram Grant 2012
Avram Grant became the manager of the national football team of Zambia in 2022

Many different coaches have led the Zambian national team over the years. Some have been from Zambia, while others have come from different countries. The current coach is Avram Grant, who started in 2022.

  • Zambia Ted Virba (1978)
  • England Brian Tiler (1978–80)
  • Romania Ted Dumitru (1980–81)
  • Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ante Bušelić (1981–82)
  • England Bill McGarry (1982–83)
  • Poland Wieslaw Grabowski (1983–84)
  • England Jeff Butler (1984)
  • Zambia Roy Mulenga (1984)
  • Zambia Brightwell Banda (1984–86)
  • Zambia Samuel Ndhlovu (1987–92)
  • Zambia Moses Simwala (1993)
  • Zambia Godfrey Chitalu (1993)
  • Denmark Roald Poulsen (1993–94)
  • Scotland Ian Porterfield (1994)
  • Denmark Roald Poulsen (1994–96)
  • Zambia Freddie Mwila (1996–97)
  • Zambia George Mungwa (1997)
  • Germany Burkhard Ziese (1997–98)
  • Zambia George Mungwa (1998)
  • Zambia Obby Kapita (1998)
  • Zambia Fighton Simukonda (1998)
  • Zambia Ben Bamfuchile (1999–2000)
  • Zambia George Mungwa (2000)
  • Netherlands Jan Brouwer (2000–01)
  • Denmark Roald Poulsen (2002)
  • Zambia Patrick Phiri (2002–03)
  • Zambia Kalusha Bwalya (2003–06)
  • Zambia Patrick Phiri (2006–08)
  • France Hervé Renard (2008–10)
  • Zambia Wedson Nyirenda & Zambia Honour Janza (2010)
  • Zambia George Lwandamina (2010)
  • Italy Dario Bonetti (2010–11)
  • France Hervé Renard (2011–13)
  • France Patrice Beaumelle (2013–14)
  • Zambia Honour Janza (2014–15)
  • Zambia George Lwandamina (2015–16)
  • Zambia Wedson Nyirenda (2016–18)
  • Zambia Beston Chambeshi (2018)
  • Belgium Sven Vandenbroeck (2018–19)
  • Zambia Aggrey Chiyangi (2019–20)
  • Serbia Milutin Sredojević (2020–21)
  • Zambia Beston Chambeshi (2021–22)
  • Croatia Aljoša Asanović (2022)
  • Zambia Moses Sichone (2022)
  • Israel Avram Grant (2022–)

Current Players

This is the list of players who were called up for the 2025 AFCON qualification matches in October 2024.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Toaster Nsabata (1993-11-24) 24 November 1993 (age 31) 39 0 Zambia ZESCO United
1GK Lawrence Mulenga (1998-08-21) 21 August 1998 (age 26) 20 0 Zambia Power Dynamos
1GK Francis Mwansa (2002-07-14) 14 July 2002 (age 23) 5 0 Zambia Green Buffaloes
1GK Victor Chabu (1994-02-22) 22 February 1994 (age 31) 1 0 Zambia Nchanga Rangers

2DF Benedict Chepeshi (1996-06-10) 10 June 1996 (age 29) 48 0 Zambia Red Arrows
2DF Kabaso Chongo (1992-02-11) 11 February 1992 (age 33) 45 1 Zambia Kabwe Warriors
2DF Tandi Mwape (1996-07-20) 20 July 1996 (age 29) 29 1 Democratic Republic of the Congo Mazembe
2DF Frankie Musonda (1997-12-12) 12 December 1997 (age 27) 16 1 Scotland Ayr United
2DF Gift Mphande (2003-11-19) 19 November 2003 (age 21) 6 0 Israel Hapoel Rishon LeZion
2DF David Bulaya (1997-10-07) 7 October 1997 (age 27) 0 0 Zambia Napsa Stars
2DF Peter Kalota (1999-08-23) 23 August 1999 (age 25) 0 0 Zambia Red Arrows

3MF Lubambo Musonda (captain) (1995-03-01) 1 March 1995 (age 30) 55 2 Denmark Silkeborg
3MF Kelvin Kampamba (1996-11-24) 24 November 1996 (age 28) 49 7 Zambia ZESCO United
3MF Clatous Chama (1991-06-18) 18 June 1991 (age 34) 40 7 Tanzania Simba
3MF Benson Sakala (1996-09-12) 12 September 1996 (age 28) 40 0 Czech Republic Mladá Boleslav
3MF Kings Kangwa (1999-04-06) 6 April 1999 (age 26) 34 7 Israel Hapoel Be'er Sheva
3MF Lameck Banda (2001-01-29) 29 January 2001 (age 24) 17 3 Italy Lecce
3MF Miguel Chaiwa (2004-06-07) 7 June 2004 (age 21) 12 0 Switzerland Young Boys
3MF Obino Chisala (1999-09-14) 14 September 1999 (age 25) 3 0 Mozambique CD Costa do Sol
3MF Joseph Banda (2005-12-17) 17 December 2005 (age 19) 2 0 Israel Hapoel Be'er Sheva

4FW Edward Chilufya (1999-09-17) 17 September 1999 (age 25) 18 1 Sweden Häcken
4FW Kennedy Musonda (1994-12-28) 28 December 1994 (age 30) 11 1 Tanzania Young Africans
4FW Jimmy Mukeya (2002-02-23) 23 February 2002 (age 23) 5 0 Zambia Kansanshi Dynamos
4FW Francisco Mwepu (2000-02-29) 29 February 2000 (age 25) 3 0 Spain Cádiz
4FW Chipyoka Songa (2004-09-24) 24 September 2004 (age 20) 0 0 Israel Hapoel Petah Tikva

Player Records

These tables show the players with the most games played and the most goals scored for Zambia. Players whose names are in bold are still playing for the national team.

Most Games Played

Rank Player Apps Goals Career
1 Kennedy Mweene 122 2 2004–2021
2 David Chabala 115 0 1983–1993
3 Godfrey Chitalu 111 79 1968–1980
4 Joseph Musonda 108 0 2002–2014
5 Rainford Kalaba 103 15 2005–2018
Christopher Katongo 103 23 2003–2016
7 Alex Chola 102 43 1975–1985
8 Elijah Tana 101 4 1995–2009
9 Derby Makinka 98 10 1985–1993
10 Stoppila Sunzu 96 6 2008–present

Top Goal Scorers

Rank Player Goals Apps Ratio Career
1 Godfrey Chitalu 79 111 0.71 1968–1980
2 Alex Chola 43 102 0.42 1975–1985
3 Kalusha Bwalya 39 87 0.45 1983–2004
4 Bernard Chanda 29 68 0.43 1971–1980
5 Christopher Katongo 23 103 0.22 2003–2016
6 Collins Mbesuma 22 65 0.34 2003–2017
7 Patson Daka 21 48 0.44 2015–present
Dennis Lota 21 78 0.27 1994–2002
9 Kenneth Malitoli 19 80 0.24 1988–1999
10 James Chamanga 17 63 0.27 2005–2015

Tournament History

FIFA World Cup

Zambia has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. They have tried many times since 1970 but have not yet made it to the biggest football tournament in the world.

Africa Cup of Nations

Zambia has a strong history in the Africa Cup of Nations. They have played in the tournament 19 times. Their best achievement was winning the title in 2012. They also finished as runners-up twice, in 1974 and 1994. They came in third place three times: in 1982, 1990, and 1996.

COSAFA Cup

The Zambian team has been very successful in the COSAFA Cup, a regional tournament for Southern African teams. They have won the COSAFA Cup seven times, making them the most successful team in its history. Their wins were in 1997, 1998, 2006, 2013, 2019, 2022, and 2023. They have also been runners-up six times.

Team Achievements

Continental Awards

  • 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 Awards

  • 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

Special Awards

  • African National Team of the Year: 2012

Summary of Wins

Senior Competitions 1 2 3 Total
CAF African Cup of Nations 1 2 3 6
CAF African Nations Championship 0 0 1 1
Total 1 2 4 7

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Zambia para niños

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