By Bola Yapa Zed Sports Desk | 17th December 2025
Former Zambia Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner Noah Chivuta has called for patience as the Chipolopolo Boys prepare for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, insisting that the influx of new players will naturally take time to settle. His remarks come in the aftermath of Zambia’s 2–0 defeat to DR Congo in a pre-tournament friendly played in Spain, a match that exposed both promise and areas still requiring refinement.
Chivuta Plays Down Friendly Result
Chivuta, who was part of Zambia’s historic AFCON-winning generation, stressed that the scoreline against DR Congo should not be a cause for alarm. According to the former midfielder, the focus at this stage of preparation should be on assessing team structure, tactical understanding, and player adaptation rather than results.
He noted that friendly matches are designed to give coaches a clearer picture of how combinations are forming, especially when several new faces are introduced. For Chivuta, what matters most is identifying progress in organisation, work rate, and understanding of roles within the team setup.
The former Chipolopolo star believes that such matches offer valuable learning moments, particularly when the squad is still adjusting to new systems and personnel under head coach Moses Sichone.
New Faces Require Time to Gel
Chivuta highlighted the challenge posed by the large number of new players in the current squad, pointing out that chemistry cannot be built overnight. He explained that many of the players have limited experience playing together at international level, which naturally affects cohesion on the pitch.
He further observed that the full squad only reported to camp recently, meaning meaningful collective training sessions have been limited. As a result, understanding movements, timing, and decision-making under pressure will take time to improve.
Despite this, Chivuta believes the technical bench must continue to expose the players to competitive environments to accelerate their adaptation ahead of the tournament kickoff.
Call for Effort and Mental Readiness
While acknowledging the short preparation window, Chivuta urged the players to maximise every training session and match opportunity. He emphasised that effort and commitment remain non-negotiable, regardless of circumstances.
According to Chivuta, international football often demands improvisation, especially when time is limited. He challenged the players to adopt a resilient mindset, stressing that grinding out performances and maintaining high intensity will be key as the tournament approaches.
He concluded by stating that results will eventually follow if the team commits fully to the process and embraces the challenge of competing at Africa’s biggest football stage.
AFCON 2025 Outlook
Zambia will open their AFCON Morocco 2025 campaign on Monday, December 22, against Mali in Casablanca. The Chipolopolo are placed in Group A alongside hosts Morocco and Comoros, setting up a demanding group phase.
Following the cancellation of their friendly against Ivory Coast, the team is expected to shift base to Morocco as final preparations intensify ahead of the tournament.
Conclusion
Noah Chivuta’s message is clear: patience, effort, and belief in the process are crucial as the Chipolopolo Boys transition into a new era. With fresh faces, limited preparation time, and a challenging group awaiting them, Zambia’s AFCON journey will test character as much as talent. The coming weeks will reveal how quickly the squad can gel and rise to the continental challenge.
