Zambia return to Futsal AFCON with sights set on semi-finals
Zambia will be hoping to build on the experience of their previous continental appearances when they compete at the TotalEnergies CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026, which takes place in Rabat from 12–21 October.
Chipolopolo are making their fourth appearance at the finals, having previously qualified in 2008, 2016 and 2024, and will be looking to repeat their best performance when they finished fourth a decade ago.
They face a demanding Group A campaign against hosts and three-time defending champions Morocco, 2008 winners Libya and Algeria, with the top two teams advancing to the semi-finals.
Zambia begin against Libya on Monday before facing Morocco on Wednesday and concluding their group fixtures against Algeria on Friday.
Italian coach Andrea Cristoforetti is in charge for a second successive tournament, having guided Zambia at the 2024 finals, also staged in Morocco.
On that occasion, they opened with an impressive 5-2 victory over Ghana as Patrick Banda, Francis Chinyama, Wiseman Phiri, Mbalika Mwaliteta and Jackson Simwami all found the net.
However, an 8-5 defeat to Angola was followed by a comprehensive 13-0 loss to eventual champions Morocco as Zambia finished third in their group and missed out on the semi-finals.
That experience has shaped Cristoforetti’s preparations for the latest tournament, with the coach retaining a core of players who have gained valuable international experience over the past two years.
Zambia booked their place at the 2026 finals with an 8-6 aggregate victory over Ghana in the qualifiers in February.
An entertaining 6-6 draw in Cape Coast was followed by a more disciplined performance in Lusaka, where goals from Banda and Musa Chiwaya secured a 2-0 victory.
Cristoforetti has selected a 14-man squad that combines experience with emerging talent, with several players drawn from Lusaka Automotive, including goalkeeper Jackson Chitungu, captain Chota Chileshe and attacking players Chinyama and Phiri.
Chinyama will again be an important figure after impressing in 2024, particularly with his attacking creativity and powerful shooting from distance.
Banda and Chiwaya will also be players to watch following their decisive contributions in qualification.
Zambia prepared for the tournament with two friendly matches against Egypt, giving Cristoforetti an opportunity to assess his side against another of Africa’s leading futsal nations.
“We had two friendly games against Egypt, which gave us a good indication of our level, more or less,” Cristoforetti told CAFOnline.
He believes the experience gained since the previous edition will help Zambia compete more effectively against the continent’s established teams.
“We have some of the players, like our captain, with experience now, and we know what to expect in a competition like this,” he said.
The immediate challenge is a difficult opening encounter against Libya, who claimed bronze at the 2024 tournament, before another meeting with Morocco, the side that exposed the gap between Zambia and Africa’s elite two years ago.
But with a settled squad, a coach familiar with continental competition and consecutive qualifications secured, Zambia will hope this tournament marks another step forward in their development and brings a return to the semi-finals.
