Zambia’s national football team, the Chipolopolo, were left frustrated after a goalless draw with Chad in their Group G Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Friday. Held at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, the match saw Zambia dominate possession but fail to break Chad’s solid defense. The absence of five key players due to injury was felt, and despite the draw, coach Avram Grant remained upbeat about their chances of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON tournament.
Grant expressed optimism, highlighting his team’s resilience even with the setbacks, saying that the squad performed well despite missing crucial players like Miguel Chaiwa. “We dominated the game completely,” said Grant, who also pointed to their successful performances in earlier qualifiers against Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone as signs of positive progress.
The match’s result left Zambia second in Group G with four points, trailing Ivory Coast by two points, with three games left to play. Chad sits lower in the standings with only two points from their qualifiers so far. With Zambia’s target of reaching AFCON unchanged, Grant reassured fans that the team remains focused on achieving their qualification goal.
Fans, who packed the stadium, were visibly disappointed by the stalemate, but their support for the Chipolopolo never wavered. Zambia now looks ahead to their next game against Chad on Tuesday, with hopes of gaining the much-needed three points to boost their qualification campaign.
Despite the draw, Zambia’s path to AFCON is still within reach, and all eyes will be on the squad as they prepare for their upcoming crucial fixtures, particularly against heavyweights Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. Grant remains confident that the Chipolopolo will rise to the challenge and secure their spot in next year’s tournament.
