Zambia’s fight to reclaim AFCON glory
Zambia will continue their campaign in the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 with a renewed mindset built on resilience and determination, as the Chipolopolo aim to revive past glories and follow once again the path of their historic 2012 triumph.
The Zambian desire to succeed has resurfaced under head coach Musa Sichone, a man who knows exactly what the national shirt represents, having been part of a previous generation of the team.
Zambia opened their Group A campaign with a 1-1 draw against a formidable Mali side last Monday. Despite only scoring a late equaliser to earn the point.
That result has raised expectations within the camp and boosted belief among the players that they can go far in the tournament. Attention now turns to the crucial second group match against Comoros, which could prove decisive in the race for qualification. A win would give Zambia a major advantage ahead of a demanding final group fixture against hosts Morocco.
Head coach Musa Sichone highlighted the importance of the upcoming encounter, while insisting on keeping pressure away from his players.
“The second group match is important for us, but I don’t want to put pressure on the players,” Sichone said. “They all know the importance of this game against Comoros and they are all ready to do everything possible to get the three points.”
Team captain Fashion Sakala echoed his coach’s words, stressing that the objective has been clear since the start of preparations.
“From the beginning of our preparations for this tournament, our target has been to qualify for the second round,” Sakala said.
“We don’t want to miss the opportunity of having a good second match. We want the three points and we will fight to achieve that. Our team is ready to battle until the final moments of the tournament.”
Zambia will approach the game with a high fighting spirit, driven by the ambition to reclaim former glory and inspired by the legacy of their 2012 title. Aware that the road to the latter stages demands victories and collective effort, the Chipolopolo will give their all to continue their quest and keep the dream of a long run alive.