Zambia is gearing up for their participation in the upcoming 4-Nations tournament, commencing with a challenging encounter against regional rivals Zimbabwe on March 23 at the Bingu National Stadium in Malawi.
The tournament serves as crucial preparation for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers scheduled for June, offering Zambia an opportunity to fine-tune their squad.
This marks Chipolopolo’s first competitive engagement since their disappointing campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) in Ivory Coast in January, where they were eliminated in the first round after draws against the DRC and Tanzania, coupled with a defeat to Morocco.
Looking ahead, Zambia faces familiar adversaries Tanzania and Morocco once again in the World Cup qualifiers, aiming to assert dominance in Group E, which currently sees a tight competition with four teams closely matched.
Coach Avram Grant has assembled a formidable squad for the tournament, acknowledging the caliber of opposition, particularly Zimbabwe. “It will be a very good test, Zimbabwe is very good, I have seen the squad, many players are playing in England,” Grant remarked.
However, Grant emphasized that Zambia’s focus extends beyond the tournament, with their sights set firmly on World Cup qualification. “Our target is not this tournament…the target is the qualification to the World Cup in June,” he affirmed.
As per the fixture released by the Malawian FA, the tournament will witness hosts Malawi facing Kenya in the other opening match. The winners from these fixtures will advance to the final, while the losers will contest the losers’ final three days later.