Zambia will wrap up their successful Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign when they face hosts Comoros for a final Group H match, set for the Omnisports de Malouzini Stadium in Moroni on the evening of Saturday 9 September 2023.
Kick-off is at 9pm CAT.
Zambia claimed a famous 3-0 win over the Ivory Coast – thanks to an own goal from Serge Aurier, and strikes from Patson Daka and Kings Kangwa – in June 2023 to rise to the top of the standings and book their place in the next Afcon with a game to spare.
Chipolopolo will be returning to the continental tournament for the first time since 2015, allowing coach Avram Grant to use this match as preparation for upcoming World Cup qualifiers, as well as the Afcon itself.
“I told you when I came [to coach the Zambian national team], our target is to win every game. Our target is to try and win every game,” said Grant.
Comoros, meanwhile, defeated Lesotho 1-0 away in June to at least ensure they will not finish bottom of Group H, though their hopes of returning to the Afcon after an impressive debut in the previous edition have been dashed.
Nonetheless, the Coelacanths will also have their eye on the start of World Cup qualifiers in November and will hope to finish the Afcon qualification campaign on a high.
In head-to-head stats, Comoros and Zambia have met in four previous matches dating back as far as 2010. Chipolopolo have claimed victory on all four occasions, including a 2-1 home triumph in Lusaka in June 2022 when the teams last met.
On that occasion, Zambia recovered from a goal down (scored by Comoros’ El Fardou Ben Nabouhane) thanks to strikes from Enock Mwepu and Kings Kangwa.
