The Zambia national football team represents Zambia in men's association football and is governed by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). During the 1980s, they were known as the KK 11, after founding president Dr. Kenneth Kaunda ("KK") who ruled Zambia from 1964 to 1991. After the country adopted multiparty politics, the side was nicknamed Chipolopolo, which means the "Copper Bullets". The team won an Africa Cup of Nations title in 2012. The team has also become the most successful team in the COSAFA Cup, surpassing Zimbabwe after winning the 2023 edition.
History Zambian Air Force Flight 319
Tragedy struck the Zambian team when the military plane (REG: AF-319) transporting the team to Senegal for a 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier crashed late in the evening of April 27, 1993. Three stops were planned for re-fuelling, but at the first stop, in Brazzaville, engine problems were noted on the Buffalo DHC-5D of the Zambia Air Force. Despite this, the flight continued, and a few minutes after take-off from Libreville, Gabon, where the second stopover had taken place, one of the engines caught fire and stopped. The pilot, who had already made a flight from Mauritius the day before, accidentally shut down the other engine, which was still running. The loss of power, during the climb after take-off, caused the plane to fall and crash into the water 500m off the coast. All 30 passengers and crew, including 18 players, were killed in the accident.
1994–2012 On June 3, 1994, in Brussels, the Zambian football team succumbed to one of the worst losses in its history against Belgium, losing 9–0. At CAN 1996, they finished first in the group with two victories (5–1 against Burkina Faso, goals from Kenneth Malitoli, double from Kalusha Bwalya, goals from Dennis Lota and Johnson Bwalya); 4–0 against Sierra Leone (a hattrick from Kalusha Bwalya and goal from Mordon Malitoli) and a draw (0–0 against Algeria), beat Egypt (3–1) in the quarterfinals and loses in semis against Tunisia (2–4) but took third place over Ghana (1–0, goal from Johnson Bwalya). Kalusha Bwalya was the best in the competition with 5 goals. From 1998 to 2006, Zambia did not pass the first round, except in 2004 when they failed to qualify. On September 3, 2006, at home, Zambia achieved the biggest victory in its history against Djibouti, winning 10–0. During the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Zambia finished third in the group with a 3–0 victory against Sudan (goals by James Chamanga, Jacob Mulenga and Felix Katongo), a draw (1–1 against Egypt, goal from Chris Katongo) and loss (1–5 against Cameroon, goal from Chris Katongo). In 2010, Zambia finished first in its group and faced Nigeria in the quarter-finals where they lost on penalties. Jacob Mulenga and Emmanuel Mbola were included in the tournament's Best XI. In 2012, the best AFCON in Zambia history happened. During the tournament's group stage, they defeated Senegal(2–1), drew with Libya (2-2), and defeated Equatorial Guinea (1–0), and qualified top of their group. During the knockout stage, Zambia defeated Sudan (3–0) in the Quarterfinals, beat Ghana in the semifinals (1–0) and went up against Ivory Coast in the final, where they won their first title, after defeating them in a dramatic Penalty shootout after a 0–0 draw after extra time.
Kit provider
Kit providerPeriod Adidas1993–1996 Puma1997–2000 Diadora2001–2002 Umbro2003 Nike2004–2015 Kappa2016 Mafro2017 KoPa2018–2025 Adidas2026–present
Results and fixtures The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
2025
2026
2027
Managers
Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
Ted Virba (1978) Brian Tiler (1978–80) Ted Dumitru (1980–81) Ante Bušelić (1981–82) Bill McGarry (1982–83) Wieslaw Grabowski (1983–84) Jeff Butler (1984) Roy Mulenga (1984) Brightwell Banda (1984–86) Samuel Ndhlovu (1987–92) Moses Simwala (1993) Godfrey Chitalu (1993) Roald Poulsen (1993–94) Ian Porterfield (1994) Roald Poulsen (1994–96) Freddie Mwila (1996–97) George Mungwa (1997) Burkhard Ziese (1997–98) George Mungwa (1998) Obby Kapita (1998) Fighton Simukonda (1998) Ben Bamfuchile (1999–2000) George Mungwa (2000) Jan Brouwer (2000–01) Roald Poulsen (2002) Patrick Phiri (2002–03) Kalusha Bwalya (2003–06) Patrick Phiri (2006–08) Hervé Renard (2008–10) Wedson Nyirenda & Honour Janza (2010) George Lwandamina (2010) Dario Bonetti (2010–11) Hervé Renard (2011–13) Patrice Beaumelle (2013–14) Honour Janza (2014–15) George Lwandamina (2015–16) Wedson Nyirenda (2016–18) Beston Chambeshi (2018) Sven Vandenbroeck (2018–19) Aggrey Chiyangi (2019–20) Milutin Sredojević (2020–21) Beston Chambeshi (2021–22) Aljoša Asanović (2022) Moses Sichone (2022) Avram Grant (2022–2025) Moses Sichone (2025–present)
Players Current squad The following players were called up for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Algeria and Togo on 25 and 29 September 2026, respectively.
Caps and goals as of 29 December 2025, after the game against Morocco.
Recent call-ups The following players had been called up in 12 months preceding the above draft.
Notes DEC Refused to join the team after the call-up. INJ Withdrew due to an injury. PRE Preliminary Squad. RET Retired from international association football. SUS Suspended from the team.
Player records
Players in bold are still active with Zambia.
Most appearances RankPlayerAppsGoalsCareer1 Kennedy Mweene12222004–20212David Chabala11501983–19933Godfrey Chitalu111791968–19804Joseph Musonda10802002–20145 Rainford Kalaba103152005–2018Christopher Katongo103232003–20167Alex Chola102431975–19858Elijah Tana10141995–20099Derby Makinka98101985–199310Stoppila Sunzu9762008–present
Top goalscorers RankPlayerGoalsAppsRatioCareer1Godfrey Chitalu791111968–19802Alex Chola431021975–19853Kalusha Bwalya39871983–20044Bernard Chanda29681971–19805Christopher Katongo231032003–20166 Collins Mbesuma22652003–20177Patson Daka21542015–presentDennis Lota21781994–20029Kenneth Malitoli19801988–199910James Chamanga17632005–2015
Competitive record FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup recordQualification recordYearRoundPosition*1930 to 1962Not a FIFA memberNot a FIFA member 1966Did not enterDid not enter 1970Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 6 6 1974 10 4 3 3 19 11 1978 6 3 1 2 9 5 1982 4 2 1 1 6 2 1986 6 2 1 3 8 6 1990 6 3 0 3 7 6 1994 8 5 1 2 17 5 1998 8 3 2 3 10 8 2002 10 5 2 3 16 11 2006 12 7 2 3 21 11 2010 10 3 3 4 4 6 2014 6 3 2 1 11 4 2018 8 4 2 2 11 7 2022621389 202683051010 2030To be determinedTo be determined 2034Total110502139163107
Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations record Qualification recordYearRoundPosition* * 1957 to 1963Not affiliated to CAFNot affiliated to CAF 1965Did not enterDid not enter 1968 1970 Did not qualify 411298 1972420286 1974 Runners-up 2nd 5 3 1 2 9 9 4 2 0 2 11 7 1976Did not qualify4202136 1978 Group stage 5th 3 1 1 1 3 2 2 1* 0 1 2 2 1980Did not qualify411252 1982 Third place 3rd 5 3 0 2 7 3 4 4 0 0 6 2 1984Did not qualify201112 1986 Group stage 7th 3 0 1 2 2 4 2 1 1 0 1 0 1988WithdrewWithdrew 1990 Third place 3rd 5 3 1 1 3 2 4 3 0 1 8 2 1992 Quarter-finals 7th 3 1 0 2 1 2 6 4 1 1 11 4 1994 Runners-up 2nd 5 3 1 1 7 2 6 4 2 0 10 2 1996 Third place 3rd 6 4 1 1 15 6 4 3 0 1 7 2 1998Group stage 10th 3 1 1 1 4 6 6 4 2 0 9 3 2000 13th 3 0 2 1 3 5 6 5 1 0 9 2 2002 14th 3 0 1 2 1 3 8 3 2 3 7 6 2004Did not qualify632165 2006Group stage 11th 3 1 0 2 3 6 12 7 2 3 16 11 2008 9th 3 1 1 1 5 6 6 3 2 1 9 3 2010 Quarter-finals 6th 4 1 2 1 5 5 10 3 3 4 4 10 2012 Champions 1st 6 4 2 0 9 3 6 4 1 1 11 2 2013Group stage 12th 3 0 3 0 2 2 2 1* 0 1 1 1 2015 13th 3 0 2 1 2 3 6 3 2 1 6 2 2017Did not qualify614177 2019621387 20216213812 2023Group stage 20th 3 0 2 1 2 3 6 4 1 1 12 6 202519th302114641174 2027 To be determined To be determined 2028Total1 title19/35732624238476148773239212126
COSAFA Cup
YearCOSAFA Cup recordResultPldWDLGFGA1997Winners53201141998Winners5320521999Semi-finals2011122000Quarter-finals2110302001Semi-finals3120322002Semi-finals2101312003Semi-finals2110532004Runners-up3210312005Runners-up4211732006Winners4400812007Runners-up211030 2008Third place311121 2009Runners-up320143 2013Winners321051 2015Quarter-finals311131 2016Quarter-finals101000 2017Runners-up320176 2018Runners-up311134 2019Winners321032 2021Group stage411234 2022Winners321064 2023Winners540195 2024Group stage300305Total7 titles
Honours Continental Africa Cup of Nations Champions (1): 2012 Runners-up (2): 1974, 1994 Third place (3): 1982, 1990, 1996 African Nations Championship Third place (1): 2009
Regional COSAFA Cup Champions (7): 1997, 1998, 2006, 2013, 2019, 2022, 2023 Runners-up (6): 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2017, 2018 Third place (1): 2008 CECAFA Cup Champions (2): 1984, 1991 Runners-up (5): 1976, 1977, 1978, 1988, 2006 Third place (5): 1973, 1974, 1981, 1992, 2013
Awards African National Team of the Year (1): 2012
Summary Competition TotalCAF African Cup of Nations1 2 3 6CAF African Nations Championship0 0 1 1Total 1 2 4 7 Notes Shared titles.
References
External links
Zambian Sports & Football Website Zambia National Football official Zambia at FIFA.com (archived 11 June 2007)