Retired legendary striker Collins Mbesuma says the Chipolopolo have a realistic chance of progressing to the knockout stages at the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations.
Chipolopolo have been drawn in Group A and will face hosts Morocco, Mali and Comoros at the AFCON set to start in December this year.
Speaking in an interview with ZNBC’s Radio 4 this morning from his South African base, Mbesuma backed the Chipolopolo to qualify for the knockout stages out of Group A given their current form and pedigree in African football.
“I think it is a fair draw and it is a fair group. If we look at the players we have and the history of Zambian football, I think we can do well. So I think we have a very big chance to go into the next round,” Mbesuma said.
The 2012 AFCON winner added that the Chipolopolo have improved enough to compete with quality opponents such as the hosts, the Atlas Lions of Morocco.
“Morocco used to give us problems but recently we’ve managed to compete with them and even beat them,” he said.
However, Mbesuma warned the Chipolopolo to also be wary of the less-fancied Comoros, as well as Mali who are one of the most competitive sides on the continent.
“Football can surprise you because there are no underdogs in football now. Even Comoros can surprise us because sometimes you don’t even know their players, and most of them are even playing in Europe,” he said.
He continued, “Mali are also a superpower in African football, so it is not an easy group, but we have also improved enough to compete with West African and Arab countries.”
Mbesuma further expressed optimism that national team gaffer Avram Grant is capable of preparing the Chipolopolo adequately for the tournament, given his wealth of experience.
“We have an experienced coach who knows how to prepare the team because he has been in football for so long, and I think we will prepare very well,” he added.
To conclude, Mbesuma urged the local soccer fans to rally behind the Chipolopolo in order to boost the team’s morale heading into the upcoming international assignments.
“The boys need our support and I know sometimes the fans don’t have patience but players are already under pressure going onto the field. So they need to be backed up by the supporters who are the 12th player,” he said.
Mbesuma is regarded as one of the best players to don the national colors, having scored 22 goals in 65 caps for the Chipolopolo.
