AFCON champs face Zambia in opening qualifier

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Sep 05, 2024. 17:00

Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions Ivory Coast will begin the long road to defending their title in 2025 when they face Zambia in a Group G qualifier, set for Stade de la Paix in Bouake on Friday 6 September. Kick-off is at 21:00 CAT.

Ivory Coast, who won the continental tournament on home soil in the most dramatic style earlier this year, will be looking to improve on the form they showed in back-to-back 2026 World Cup qualifiers back in June, when they defeated Gabon 1-0 at home before a somewhat disappointing goalless stalemate away to Kenya.

Elephants coach Emerse Fae has kept faith with stalwarts such as Franck Kessie and Jean-Michael Seri, though the recall of Manchester United’s Amad Diallo could add some zip in attack.

“Left-footed players are rare. He has above-average technical quality. What we want is for him to continue,” explained Fae.

“Since the end of the championship with Manchester United, he has continued. Physically, he feels better and better. Mentally, he has gained maturity, he gave off a sense of wisdom during our meeting on Friday. He will bring us a lot and for me it is the right time for him to come back.”

Zambia, meanwhile, exited the last AFCON in the group stage after returning to the tournament for the first time since 2015, and endured a rough start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying by losing back-to-back matches against Morocco and Tanzania.

Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant faces an uphill battle in trying to upset the reigning African kings, as he will be without key players Patson Daka and Frankie Musonda due to injury, while gifted attacker Fashion Sakala remains out in the cold.

In head-to-head stats, Ivory Coast and Zambia have met in 11 matches, dating back as far as 1974. Chipolopolo have claimed seven wins compared to three for the Elephants, while one game has been drawn.

The teams last met in qualifying for the last edition of the AFCON, with Ivory Coast winning 3-1 at home in June 2022, but Zambia claimed a 3-0 triumph in the return game just over a year later.