The 1974 and 1994 African Nations Cup runners-up will be looking to go one better when they travel to Angola.
Chipolopolo will be looking to lift the trophy for the first time having made 13 appearances at the tournament but currently stand a lowly 90th in the Fifa world rankings and 19th in the Africa standings.
However, they eased through the second round qualifiers topping a group which included Togo, Swaziland and Eritrea.
In the third round, which also served as the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup, they were pitted against Algeria, Egypt and Rwanda. The two North African giants, Algeria and Egypt, were left to battle it out for a trip to South Africa while Zambia had to fight it out with Rwanda to make it into the continent’s showpiece.
A win against Rwanda and two draws were enough to ensure they made it for a 14th trip to the AFCON.
One to watch: Collins Mbesuma
Collins Mbesuma holds the record for the number of goals scored in a single season in the South African top flight when he bagged 35 goals in all competitions while with Kaizer Chiefs.
His goalscoring prowess saw him attract European interest and it didn’t come as a surprise when he joined English outfit Portsmouth.
However his stay on the South Coast mustered just four league appearances and a loan spell with Portuguese side Maritimo shortly followed.
The 25-year-old joined Bursaspor before consistently poor time keeping, something that has meant to have been a problem throughout his career, brought about an end to his time in Turkey and the frontman returned to South Africa, joining Mamelodi Sundowns and then Moroka Swallows.
Mbesuma is a powerful striker who packs a mean shot and he will be looking to prove he is not a flash in the pan having been left out of the Zambia squad for the 2008 AFCON for being ‘unfit’.
Coach: Herve Renard
Renard took over the role as coach in 2008 despite possessing limited experience.
His most notable job had been the assistant post with Ghana under Claude Le Roy although Renard did coach French third division outfit AS Cherbourg before taking over Chipolopolo. This is the first time he has ever been charge of a national team.
[BSkyB]
We will wait and see. Too bad for the Togolese national team for having to survive bullets, good luck !
IT IS A WELL KNOWN FACT THAT ZAMBIA ONLY REACHES THE FINALS AFTER 20 YEARS, SO THE NEXT FINAL APPEARANCE WILL BE IN 2014. THIS YEAR IS BUSINESS AS USUAL FIRST ROUND EXIT, AND LIFE GOES ON.
LOL… good luck
forget about getting the cup. vi ma cooler. unless baza chita bu nfwiti
I would have preferred the sentence going: ” the 1974 and 1994 african nations cup champions will be looking…….”
runners- up? not worth mentioning
Zambia (like England) very ambitious! Always thinking they shall win! Give us a break!
Bla bla bla. Forget about wining it. If Collins Mbesuma is our “The One to watch” then we have very little chance. The guy is finished, anasili monga unga! I hope they won’t be cheapskate and travel to Angola by bus like the Togo national team that got ambushed and shoot at. It’s very disappointing that it happened but they are Africans and should have known better than to travel by bus in an unstable region!
Guyz, the football of today is different for yesteryear’s. Today’s football is highly technical and we should expect anything. Zambia has been known to upset big teams and this year can not be different. Watch how they are going to play the first game and then judge them. I would put my money on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not good at all……..19th sure??? Something surely needs to be done. Thought people like Kalu were going to make a big change but the dude is living in SA but still Faz president. For now just waiting and hope all this team would have been doing by now is to work hard and stay away from the press. All the best though….you can always make it if you try.
@MB no# 6 you are wise, I always tell inferiority complex individual of Zambia the same thing. England is always hyped by the media so are Zambia; but they too are no where near the greats of Italy, Brazil, Argentina, Netherlands, Germany, possibly Cameroon and Nigeria when the are in the mood.
Zambia! God’s land! You are now the least among the footballing nations that gather in Angola. Your position is that of the under dog. But for the first time this year, you will rise with wings like your noble eagle in its flight. Trust in the Lord with all your might and lean not on your footballing skills. You have done the home work now glorify the God who adopted your country as His own. Worship Him and He will give you success. You will succeed in Angola in the name of Yeshuah. Amen.
Let us look at the national stadium first before we start speculating about this tournament. The INDEPENDENCE stadium is like an abandoned village. Until we improve our basic infrastructure we won’t go anywhere. Unless we invest in infrastructure we are doomed to chancing.
If the Togolese team was ambushed at Independence stadium, the whole team would have been annihilated because the area is now a bush, a perfect ambush site. To win the AFCON with the current state of our national stadium would be equivalent to day-light robery
AUTHOR,FIND A BEFITTING TITLE FOR THIS ARTICLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
guys please wait and see otherwise things are better so far in the team go zam go
what ever happens,the chipopolopolo boys are ours to keep.so the best we can do is to wish them the best of luck.after all,money,time,energy have been spent to prepare them for this.and remember no one prepares to fail.they need our support.
Number 16, it is a pity Zambia has prepared to fail. Find better administrators for FAZ if you do not want to prepare to fail. Not Kalu or his friend Munaile, they are not serious. Go Zambia, Go…
I will bet £100 to anyone out there who thinks Zambia will even win one game in Luanda! Any takers?
Go zambia go,iam behind you.if others can do it,who are we not to do it.its just a matter of commitment and seriousness.I wish you all the best.Big ups to all zambians!!!!