Zambia in the 2023 African Cup.. The 2012 champion hopes to return to the podium | sports

The Zambian national team is trying to wear the garb of champion again and repeat its achievement in the 2012 edition when it won the title, and hopes to regain memories of the tournament when it competes in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Ivory Coast will host the 2023 edition between January 13 and February 11.

The draw placed Zambia in Group Six, alongside Morocco, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania.

The “Copper Bullets” team ranked 84th in the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) rankings last November.

🚨 Zambia national team @FAZFootball
He reserves his place in the African Cup of Nations – Côte d’Ivoire 2023 next year after defeating his Ivorian guest 3-0. pic.twitter.com/pSZAbW6hc4

– Trend Kora (@babybIoue) June 17, 2023

Establishment

The Zambian Football Association was founded in 1929, and joined the FIFA and CAF in 1964.

Zambia Independence fathers soccer team. pic.twitter.com/0yen4ZpH2a

— The Historian (@Historian_Zed) December 27, 2020

The Zambian national team played its first international match in 1946, losing it to the Southern Rhodesian national team 4-0.

Zambia’s first official match, after joining FIFA, was held on July 3, 1964, at home against the Tanzania national team, and ended with Chipopoulos winning with a clean goal.

Zambia’s participation in the African Cup of Nations

Zambia has participated in 17 editions of the African Cup of Nations. She won the title once in 2012.

• After two previous attempts to participate in the African Cup of Nations, the Zambian national team succeeded in qualifying for the first time in 1974. The Zambian national team advanced to the final, and faced the national team Zaire (currently the Democratic Republic of the Congo), and the match ended in a 2-2 draw, but lost in the replay match by two unanswered goals.

Zambia National Team (formerly known as KK 11) circa 1974.

The lost to Zaire in the Africa Cup Finals. pic.twitter.com/VAgJHiYrDI

— The Historian (@Historian_Zed) August 16, 2020

• In the 1978 finals, Zambia exited the tournament in the first round after one win (2-0 over Burkina Faso), a goalless draw against Nigeria, and a defeat (1-2) against Ghana.

1982- Africa Cup of Nations. Zambia team won the bronze. pic.twitter.com/V1kZ5va57L

— The Historian (@Historian_Zed) May 28, 2021

• In the 1982 edition, Zambia qualified for the semi-finals, lost to Libya 1-2, and exited the tournament.
• The “Chipoulopoulos” team participated in the 1986 edition, but was eliminated from the first round, winning one point from a goalless draw against Algeria, and two losses to Cameroon (2-3) and Morocco (by a clean goal).

1986- Zambia National Team- the KK 11 pic.twitter.com/ApbZNvliVO

— The Historian (@Historian_Zed) November 16, 2020

• In 1990, Zambia lost the semi-final to Nigeria by two unanswered goals, but succeeded in clinching third place by defeating Senegal with a clean goal.
• In 1992 in Senegal, Zambia was eliminated from the quarter-finals by losing 1-0 to the Ivory Coast national team.
• In the 1994 edition in Tunisia, it won runner-up after narrowly losing 1-2 in the final to Nigeria.
• In 1996 in South Africa, it finished third by beating Ghana 1-0 in the third-fourth place match.
• From 1998 to 2006, Zambia was eliminated in the first round.
• In the 2010 edition, they were eliminated in the quarter-finals after losing on penalties to Nigeria.
• In 2012, which Zambia shared with Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, the “Copper Bullets” team won the title after an exemplary campaign that took them to the final. In that marathon match, they defeated Ivory Coast on penalty kicks (8-7) after a goalless draw prevailed in the official and extra time.

🔝 Leading the first group
✌️ Two victories
🤝 One draw
⚽ 5 goals

This is what the Zambian national team presented in the group stage in preparation for winning the 2012 African Cup of Nations title 🏆👇#TotalAFCON | @FAZFootball pic.twitter.com/AOov7tNjMM

— CAF – Arabic (@caf_online_AR) June 13, 2021

🇿🇲 Let us remember the exceptional performance of the Zambian national team in 2012 when they won the African Cup of Nations. #TotalAFCON Without losing, after defeating Côte d’Ivoire in the final 🏆

⚽ Enjoy all the goals of the Bronze Bullets team in their first continental title 👇 pic.twitter.com/iJ2LQnUJVQ

— CAF – Arabic (@caf_online_AR) March 26, 2020

Congratulations 🎊 Zambia National Soccer team for winning the 2012 AFCON…I never had a smartphone during that time. pic.twitter.com/6FVhcKbdGL

— Cheelo Mainz (@UncleCheelo) April 8, 2022

• In the 2013 and 2015 editions, Zambia was eliminated in the first round.
• Zambia failed to reach the 2017, 2019 and 2021 finals in Cameroon.

The most prominent current stars

• Baston Daca
• Fascists Sakala
• Kings Kanghwa
• Kabombo
• Edward Chiluvia (Danish Midtjylland)
• Francisco Moebo (Spanish Kadesh)
• Patson Daka (Leicester City, England)

Most prominent former stars

• Kalusha Bwalya
• Kaminga and Buba

🇿🇲 Zambia are 2023 #TotalEnergiesAFCON bound ✈️

The Copper Bullets will make their 18th appearance in the competition 🏆 #TotalEnergiesAFCONQ2023 | @FAZFootball pic.twitter.com/xNR8ok6KiX

— CAF (@CAF_Online) June 17, 2023

Zambia’s matches in Group 6 of the African Cup of Nations:

• Wednesday 17 January: Democratic Republic of the Congo x Zambia (Laurent Bouco Stadium)
• Sunday 21 January: Zambia x Tanzania (Laurent Bouco Stadium)
• Wednesday 24 January: Zambia x Morocco (Laurent Bouco Stadium)

Team coach

Israeli Avram Grant was appointed coach of Zambia on December 22, 2022, with a two-year contract, and led him to the 2023 edition of the competition, which will be held early next year.