The Zambian national soccer team, commonly referred to as the Chipolopolo, are currently African champions and have won six COSAFA Cup titles. And you know this if you are a loyal fan, if not, you can check out all the upcoming sporting events at melbet-africa.net.
As Morocco has been placed in Group E for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Zambia is considered its main rival for qualification. They will meet during the April international window in a two-match playoff.
1. Zambia National Team
Zambia National Team, more commonly known as the Copper Queens, will make their inaugural World Cup appearance this year and have received an enthusiastic reception from fans across their home nation. Their first match will take place against Japan on Saturday 22 July.
Twenty years ago, a plane carrying 18 members of Zambia’s football team crashed during a World Cup qualifier in Congo, killing all on board. At that time, this squad was widely considered one of the greatest ever produced by Zambia and held genuine hopes of reaching the final and winning the African Cup of Nations for the first time.
Zambia have never reached the semi-finals of AFCON before and have lost every match so far, under former Ghana, Portsmouth and West Ham United manager Avram Grant’s tutelage. But Zambia could make history at 2024’s edition under Grant’s watchful guidance.
Zambia has struggled in its most recent matches and will need to improve its away form if it wants any chance at reaching the semifinals at AFCON 2024. But with an experienced player pool and new coach onboard, Zambia may yet prove an exciting contender at AFCON 2024.
2. Zambia U-23 Team
The Zambia U-23 Team is a men’s football team representing Zambia internationally in international competition. Managed by the Football Association of Zambia, this side is popularly known by their nickname of Chipolopolo after using copper bullets used by Kenneth Kaunda during his war against Rhodesian Bushmen during the 1980s. Since its creation, this side has won seven COSAFA tournament titles; making them the only non-African team ever to do so!
Osward Mutapa will likely lead them back towards success under new coach Osward Mutapa; foreign-based players such as Prince Mumba from NK Istra, Lameck Banda of Lecce Italy and Golden Mafwenta (Real Monarchs USA) should help strengthen them further.
At the 2024 Olympic draw, Team Atlas Lions from Morocco were placed into Group B alongside Germany, Australia and whoever emerges victorious from an African playoff between Morocco and Zambia. Although never qualifying for an Olympics before, this will prove a formidable challenge when facing off against United States, currently ranked fifth globally.
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3. Zambia U-23 Women’s Team
The Zambia women’s national association football team, commonly referred to as the Copper Queens, represents their nation in international competition. At present, it ranks 81st worldwide and participates in tournaments to qualify for FIFA Women’s World Cup and other African competitions. They made history when Zambia became the first landlocked African country ever to qualify for a senior World Cup tournament in 2023.
U-23 squad recently arrived in Auckland, New Zealand in preparation for their Olympic qualifying game against the USWNT on July 25. Germany, Australia and whoever wins an African playoff between Morocco and Zambia are included in Group B along with USWNT.
As they prepare to compete at the Olympic Games, the Copper Queens have made waves with their aggressive play. Forwards Racheal Kundananji, Lameck Banda and Fashion Sakala scored nine goals between four friendly matches; furthermore, they defeated second-ranked Germany during one tune-up match.
Barbra Banda made history when she became the first transgender female soccer player ever in professional competition this year when she participated in Barbra’s final tune-up friendly against Germany, a match in which Bay FC beat them 3-2 and signed her for an NWSL expansion club with an unprecedented transfer fee; Bay FC later denied claims they were racist for signing her.
4. Zambia U-23 Men’s Team
Zambia U-23 men’s team will look to emulate their senior Chipolopolo side’s success when qualifying for 2024 Olympic qualification. Ranked 12th in Africa according to FIFA rankings, Zambia currently sits 12th overall and their coach, Oswald Mutapa hopes that his players can draw upon Cote d’Ivoire’s shock elimination in Round One of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as an inspiration for success in qualifying for 2024 Olympics qualification.
Copper Queens will have their best shot at qualifying for the 2020 Olympic tournament during the final qualifying phase, held from April 1-9 in Morocco. Their two-leg series against Morocco for one of two available spots at the Olympic tournament should prove decisive and they hope their stars like Lameck Banda, Patson Daka, Fashion Sakala and Kennedy Musonda can lead them to success.
The 2024 Summer Olympic Games are rapidly approaching, and teams around the globe are in their final qualifying stages to qualify for Paris. One such team, United States Women’s National Team has been drawn into Group B alongside Germany, Australia and whichever African nation wins its playoff between Morocco or Zambia – an announcement was made at Paris 2024 Olympic Organizing Committee headquarters in Saint-Denis on March 18th 2019.
