12/10/2025
CHIPOLOPOLO FACE NIGER IN FINAL GROUP E DUEL
The Chipolopolo wind up their Group E FIFA World Cup campaign with a tricky fixture against the Menas of Niger, at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Coach Avram Grant and his technical staff are looking to sign off on a high note on home soil and keep their outside chance of making it to the FIFA World Cup qualification play-offs alive by finishing second in the group.
The game is also being viewed as part of the wider preparatory journey for the Africa Cup of Nations, which will be played in December/January in Morocco.
In goal, the trio of Lawrence Mulenga, Charles Kalumba and newbie Patrick Chooma will be fighting for a starting berth.
At the back fit-again Frankie Musonda, Benson Sakala, Kabaso Chongo, Gift Mphande, skipper Lubambo Musonda, Dominic Chanda, David Hamansenya and Mathews Banda will be raising their hands for the limited spots.
At the heart of the operation will have the options lying on Kelvin Kapumbu, Emmanuel Banda and latest call up Humphrey Bwembya.
It is in attack where the options abound with on-fire Kings Kangwa, jet-heeled Lameck Banda, wing wizard Joseph Sabobo Banda, the nimble footed Clatous Chama, Kelvin Kampamba and the experienced Fashion Sakala providing a selection headache for the technical bench.
Spain based Gift Siame is also looking to get a chance on the pitch on his second national team call up.
Upfront the onus may lie on either Patson Daka, Kennedy Musonda or Edward Chilufya depending on the team set up deployed by the Zambian bench.
Zambia will be wary of the threat posed by Amadou Moutari and Djibril Goumey who were on target in the first leg.
Already qualified Morocco tops the group on 21 points while Niger lies second on 12 points with Tanzania who have exhausted their matches in third place with 10 points. Zambia lies fourth with nine points while Congo Brazzaville who face Morocco have one point and are rock bottom.
Group winners across the nine streams will automatically qualify to the FIFA World Cup while four second best placed teams will compete in a play-off, which will see the winner claim the final spot for Africa.
The match kicks off at15h00 and will be live on SuperSport (channel 227).
