Thirteen years after the feat, Zambia will try the impossible again. Winners to everyone’s surprise in 2012 under the orders of Hervé Renard, the Chipolopolos wrote one of the most beautiful pages in the history of African football and obtained, thanks to this monumental feat, their napkin ring at the table of the continent’s respected nations.
But since then, the southern African country has been trying to regain the summits. After three consecutive disappointments during the qualifiers (2017, 2019, 2022), Zambia finally returned to the final phase of the CAN in 2024.
In Ivory Coast, Little Thumb of 2012 did not make it past the chickens. The objective will therefore be to do better this winter. Behind Morocco, the big favorite of Group A, fate offered an even draw to the Zambians, with affordable confrontations against Mali and the Comoros. Enough to start dreaming again?
Zambia calendar
The list of selected players
Guardians: Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos/ZAM), Francis Mwansa (Zanaco/ZAM), Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos/ZAM)
Defenders: Stopilla Sunzu (Changchun/CHI), Frankie Musonda (Bahreïn SC/BAH), Kabaso Chongo (Zesco United/ZAM), Matthews Banda (Nkana/ZAM), Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos/ZAM), Gift Mphande (Zesco United/ZAM), Obino Chisala (Al-Merrikh SC/SOU), David Hamasenya (Leganés/ESP), Benson Sakala (Bohemians 1905/RTC)
Midfielders: Miguel Changa Chaiwa (Hibernian/ECO), Owen Tembo (Power Dynamos/ZAM), Joseph Liteta (Cagliari/ITA), Kings Kangwa (Maccabi Be’er Sheva/ISR), Given Kalusa (FC Muza/ZAM), David Simukonda (Zesco United/ZAM), Wilson Chisala (Zanaco/ZAM), Joseph Sabobo Banda (Maccabi Be’er Sheva/ISR), Lameck Banda (Lecce/ITA), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha/KSA), Lubambo Sailas Musonda (Magdebourg/ALL), Pascal Phiri (Zesco United/ZAM)
Attackers: Patson Daka (Leicester City/ANG), Jack Lahne Kalichi (Austria Lustenau/AUT), Kennedy Musonda (Hapoel Ramat Gan/ISR), Eliya Mandanji (Zanaco/ZAM).
Player to watch: Patson Daka
He is the flagship player of his nation. The only player on the list, with captain Lubambo Musonda (FC Magdeburg) and left winger Lameck Banda (Lecce), to play in one of the five major countries in Europe, Patson Daka (27) moved to Leicester (England) in the summer of 2021.
A dynamic and instinctive striker, the native of Chingola has carried the Zambian attack since his debut in the selection in June 2015. With 21 goals in 52 caps, he is the offensive leader of the group led by Moses Sichone. Accustomed to the highest level thanks to his years in the Premier League, Daka is preparing to play his second CAN. In 2024, he distinguished himself by scoring once and providing an assist during the group stage.
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