Government says the Zambia Senior Men’s National Football Team did not perform well in 2025, despite qualifying for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Elvis Nkandu, said the senior team’s results were below expectation but expressed optimism due to the strong performances recorded by the country’s youth football sides.
In an exclusive interview with the media, Nkandu said the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-20 national teams showed great promise this year.
He noted that both the boys’ and girls’ teams that competed in South Africa and at the Region 5 Games delivered commendable performances, signaling a positive future for Zambian football.
The Minister added that Zambia remains on a progressive path and expressed confidence that more medals will be secured before the year ends and into 2026.
He also thanked fans and the private sector for supporting various sports disciplines and helping Zambia shine on the international stage.
Meanwhile, Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Head of Media and Communications, Nkweto Tembwe, said the senior team failed to meet expectations this year.
He explained that although results were disappointing, several new players gained valuable experience during the World Cup qualifiers and international friendlies, with some now included in the 28-member AFCON provisional squad.
Tembwe praised the junior teams, highlighting the Under-17 boys’ qualification to the World Cup in Qatar for the second time, where they remained unbeaten in their first three games and conceded very few goals.
He also noted progress recorded by the Under-20 and women’s youth teams.
And football analyst Yotham Mwanza said delayed allowances, inadequate funding, limited investment and discipline-related issues contributed to the poor performances by both the Chipolopolo and the Copper Queens.
He said these challenges affected player morale, adding that discipline is critical for young players transitioning to senior-level football, as many promising careers are often lost due to lack of focus.
Mwanza, however, commended the Copper Queens for qualifying for the World Cup and winning a three-nation tournament in Malawi, after drawing with Malawi and beating Zimbabwe 3-1 in the final.
He further described the Under-17 women’s back-to-back World Cup qualifications as a significant milestone and urged for increased private-sector support to ease the financial burden on Government and FAZ.
