On the back of the Chipolopolo’s failure to qualify to the 2004 African Cup of Nations, the team were in the rebuilding process.
Former captain Kalusha Bwalya took over his first managerial job as Zambia coach.
Kalusha promoted a number of players from Peter Kaumba’s Zambia Under-23.
The qualifiers were used for both the World Cup and African Cup of Nations.
Zambia was placed in the same group with Senegal, Togo, Congo, Mali and Liberia.
The Chipolopolo Boys beat Togo 1-0 in the opening match at Independence Stadium courtesy of Jacob Mulenga goal.
The team only suffered one defeat at home in Chililabombwe via an El Hadji Diouf winner for Senegal.
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Togo | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 8 | 12 | 23 |
| Senegal | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 8 | 13 | 21 |
| Zambia | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 19 |
| Congo | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 14 | -4 | 10 |
| Mali | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 14 | -3 | 8 |
| Liberia | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 27 | -24 | 4 |
It was the away form which saw Zambia suffer two more defeats including the 4-1 thrashing to Togo courtesy of an Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor hatrick in Lome.
Togo won the group and qualified to the World Cup in Germany while Zambia and Senegal had to settle for an African Cup of Nations slot.
From the team which started the match in Lome in July 2005, seven players were part of the AFCON winning team in 2012.
Goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje, Francis ‘Mr Reliable’ Kasonde, Joseph Musonda, Isaac Chansa, Collins Mbesuma, Felix and Chris Katongo all went on to win AFCON.
Kalusha, who was being assisted by Ben Bamfuchile went with an attacking 4-3-3 with Chansa in the holding role.
Gift Kampamba and Ian Bakala were on either side of Chansa with the Katongo brothers on the flanks supporting Collins Mbesuma as a lone striker.
The back four had Kasonde and Musonda as full backs while Misheck Lungu and Kennedy Nkhetani in central defence.
Key moments
1. Kalusha Bwalya came of the bench to score an injury time free kick against Liberia
2. Collins Mbesuma announced his arrival on the global stage with a hatrick against Congo Brazaville. He went to finish the qualifiers with 5 goals.
3. Ignitius ‘Figo’ Lwipa and Nchimunya ‘Drogba’ Mweetwa both scored a brace each in the 5-0 demolition of Liberia. Numba Mumanga scored the other goal.
