Zambia national football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Zambia women's national football team.

Zambia
Nickname(s)Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets)
AssociationFootball Association of Zambia (FAZ)
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCOSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coachAvram Grant
CaptainLubambo Musonda
Most capsKennedy Mweene (122)
Top scorerGodfrey Chitalu (79)
Home stadiumLevy Mwanawasa Stadium
National Heroes Stadium
FIFA codeZAM
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 94 Decrease 1 (24 October 2024)[1]
Highest15 (February – May 1996, August 1996)
Lowest102 (February 2011)
First international
 Southern Rhodesia 0–4 Northern Rhodesia 
(Southern Rhodesia; 1946)
Biggest win
 Zambia 11–2 Swaziland 
(Lusaka, Zambia; 5 February 1978)
 Zambia 9–0 Kenya 
(Lilongwe, Malawi; 13 November 1978)
 Zambia 9–0 Lesotho 
(Botswana; 8 August 1988)
Biggest defeat
 DR Congo 10–1 Zambia 
(DR Congo; 22 November 1969)
 Belgium 9–0 Zambia 
(Brussels, Belgium; 3 June 1994)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances18 (first in 1974)
Best resultChampions (2012)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances19 (first in 1997)
Best resultChampions (1997, 1998, 2006, 2013, 2019, 2022, 2023)
Four Nations Football Tournament
Appearances1 (first in 2024)
Best resultThird place (2024)
Medal record
CAF Africa Cup of Nations
Gold medal – first place 2012 Gabon and Equatorial Guinea Team
Silver medal – second place 1974 Egypt Team
Silver medal – second place 1994 Tunisia Team
Bronze medal – third place 1982 Libya Team
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Algeria Team
Bronze medal – third place 1996 South Africa Team
CAF African Nations Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Ivory Coast Team
COSAFA Cup
Gold medal – first place 1997 Southern Africa
Gold medal – first place 1998 Southern Africa
Gold medal – first place 2006 Southern Africa
Gold medal – first place 2013 Zambia Team
Gold medal – first place 2019 South Africa
Gold medal – first place 2023 South Africa
Silver medal – second place 2004 Southern Africa
Silver medal – second place 2005 Southern Africa
Silver medal – second place 2007 Southern Africa
Silver medal – second place 2009 Zimbabwe
Silver medal – second place 2017 South Africa
Silver medal – second place 2018 South Africa
Bronze medal – third place 2008 South Africa
CECAFA Cup
Gold medal – first place 1984 Uganda
Gold medal – first place 1991 Uganda
Silver medal – second place 1976 Zanzibar
Silver medal – second place 1977 Somalia
Silver medal – second place 1978 Malawi
Silver medal – second place 1988 Malawi
Silver medal – second place 2006 Ethiopia
Bronze medal – third place 1981 Tanzania
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Tanzania
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Kenya

The Zambia national football team represents Zambia in 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".[3] The team won an Africa Cup of Nations title in 2012. This team has also become the most successful team in the COSAFA Cup, surpassing Zimbabwe after winning the 2023 edition.

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  3. ^ "History of Zambian National Team". fazfootball.com. Football Association of Zambia. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2016.