Chipolopolo Slip 2 Steps In FIFA Rankings
For Chipolopolo fans, Thursday’s FIFA Rankings release from Zurich felt less like news and more like confirmation of what their eyes have already been telling them. Zambia has slipped two places down the global ladder, from 83rd to 85th, and while that might sound like a small drop, it speaks volumes about the state of the men’s national team in 2025.
The good news Zambia has at least maintained 18th position in Africa. The bad news is that “consolation prize” feels about as comforting as a bottle of Mazoe without sugar.
The numbers paint a picture as brutal as a late tackle in the 90th minute. In the last twelve months, Chipolopolo have managed only three wins in FIFA-sanctioned fixtures. Instead, what fans have been treated to is a cocktail of heavy defeats and painful near-misses:
Zambia 0–2 Morocco
Kenya 1–0 Zambia
Zambia 0–1 Kenya
Angola 2–1 Zambia
DR Congo 2–0 Zambia
Botswana 3–3 Zambia
Zambia 0–1 Comoros
Russia 5–0 Zambia
It’s a record that would test even the most die-hard fan’s patience. The Russia humiliation in particular still stings conceding five goals in a friendly felt like walking into a bar fight with both hands tied.
Zambia’s problem isn’t talent the squad boasts players in top European leagues, from Patson Daka in England to Lameck Banda in Italy. The issue is consistency for a nation that dreams of qualifying to the World Cup, this up-and-down trend won’t cut it. The rankings are just a reflection of that inconsistency Zambia can’t climb the ladder if they keep tripping over the same rungs.
Dropping to 85th in the world may not be catastrophic, but it’s a warning sign. Africa is fiercely competitive, and with Africa Cup around the corner, Zambia cannot afford to stumble further. Once upon a time, Chipolopolo shocked the continent by winning AFCON in 2012. Thirteen years later, the fear is that Zambia is now drifting into irrelevance on the international stage.
The downward trend is undeniable. For Chipolopolo to rise again, the results must change because in football, as in life, you are what the scoreboard says you are.
