TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025: Team Profile: Zambia
Nickname: Chipolopolo
Total Appearances: 18
Last Appearance: Cote d’Ivoire 2023
Titles: 1 (2012)
FIFA Ranking: 87
Coach: Avram Grant
Captain: Lubambo Musonda
The second nation from the Southern African region to lift the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations title after South Africa, Zambia are preparing to make their 19th appearance at the continental finals in Morocco.
After lifting the title in dramatic fashion against Cote d’Ivoire at the Gabon 2012 finals, Chipolopolo are yet to find their rhythm at the AFCON finals, with their last appearance in Cote d’Ivoire ending in the group stages.
The Morocco edition affords Avram Grant’s charges to really stake their claim against the continent’s best.
How they qualified
Chipolopolo powered into the finals with a commanding performance in a Group G that consisted of reigning champions Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Chad.
The 2012 champions won four out of their six group stage matches which saw them finish top ahead of Cote d’Ivoire whom they led with a point at the end of the campaign.
Key Player to watch – Lubambo Musonda
The Zambians are captained by German-based Lubambo Musonda. The midfielder will be key for Zambia’s quest to reclaim continental glory with his recent European experience.
The 29-year-old who had a spell in Armenia before heading to Poland, Denmark and now Germany with German 2 Bundesliga side, FC Magdeburg.
Know the coach - Avram Grant
The Football Association of Zambian (FAZ) announced Avram Grant as head coach of Chipolopolo in 2022, affording the former Chelsea coach a second spell in Africa after leading the Black Stars of Ghana to a TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2017 semi-final finish.
Despite a disappointing showing in Cote d’Ivoire last year that saw the 2012 champions fail to make it out the group stages, Chipolopolo are led by one of the most experienced tacticians of the modern game with wealth of football experience and knowledge of the game.
Previous TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Appearances
With this marking Zambia’s 19th TotalEnergies CAF AFCON finals appearance, Chipolopolo will be looking at emulating their best run from 2012 when they went on to lift the title.
Zambia have had six podium finishes from their previous 18 appearances. Runners up twice in 1974 and 1994, three-time bronze medallists in 1982, 1990 and 1994 and champions in 2012.
Fan Zone:
Did you Know: Zambia’s TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2012 triumph in Gabon was in the same country of the tragic aeroplane crash in 1993 where their entire squad tragically passed. This was Zambia’s first TotalEnergies CAF AFCON gold medal.