Zambia Qualify Top of the Group for AFCON 2025

Zambia’s National Team coach, Avram Grant, expressed his pleasure at seeing the Chipolopolo boys improve in every game after they qualified for the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Group G winners following consecutive wins over Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.

Zambia defeated Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone 1-0 and 2-0, respectively, to finish the qualifiers in first place with 13 points and four clean sheets, a point ahead of African champions Ivory Coast, who finished in second position with 12 points.

Talking to the press after Tuesday’s result, Grant, the ex-Israel and Chelsea manager, said, “Our target was to show that we are professionals, and even if we already qualified, we wanted to finish the qualifiers like professionals and improve our game…We could have scored more, but as said, we finished with four clean sheets, which is very important for us because before, we would concede goals in almost every game, but we learned from our mistakes.”

Midfielder Kings Kangwa was quick to thank the fans for their support, saying “A big shout out to the fans, they really helped us in this qualification. A big thanks to them. We want them to continue giving us the support, and we will continue to do our best.”

Top goalscorer Musonda also praised Chipolopolo fans, adding, “To be able to represent over 20 million Zambians and have the support is an incredible feeling, and we don’t take it for granted.”

The Chipolopolo boys will now return to their clubs, and AFCON matches will resume in late December.