Exclusive: ‘Zambia want to go to AFCON again,’ says Keeper Lawrence Mulenga

Chipolopolo first choice goalkeeper Lawrence Mulenga says players are determined to ensure that Zambia earns a back-to-back qualification to Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The last time Zambia made it to straight AFCONs was between 2006 and 2015 when they qualified to six consecutive tournaments, one of which they ended up winning. Post 2015, Zambia dropped the ball, missing out on the 2017, 2019 and 2019 editions before bouncing back at the 2023, played in 2024 edition in Ivory Coast.

However, they have a chance to make a back-to-back qualification as they sit second in Group G with seven points, two behind leaders Ivory Coast while Sierra Leone and Chad are on four and two points respectively.

To qualify again, Avram Grant and his men will need to collect positive results in this month’s back-to-back matches at home against Ivory Coast on November 15 and away to Sierra Leone four days later.

THE AIM IS TO QUALIFY AND GO BEYOND

Mulenga, whose first competitive cap was in a 3 – 0 home win over Ivory Coast during the qualifiers of the 2023 event, said in an exclusive interview that the aim is to make it for the AFCON again.

“It will be a pleasure to take mother Zambia back to the Africa Cup of Nations again, the goal this time around would be to go further in the tournament,” Mulenga told SportsBoom.

Since winning the AFCON in 2012, Zambia has on three occasions failed to make it out of the group stage of the qualifiers.

In 2013, their failed title defense in South Africa saw them eliminated at the first hurdle, collecting three points from the nine on offer, drawing against Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Ethiopia.

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The following tournament, Chipolopolo finished bottom of Group B with a run of two stalemates and one defeat in a group that had the likes of Tunisia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cape Verde.

Their luck fell short in the 2023 edition too, bowing out at group stage after stalemates to Congo and Tanzania and a loss to Morocco

IVORY COAST, SIERRA LEONE MUST FALL

Looking to the next two games, Mulenga said the team needs to pick it up from their 1-0 win against Chad.

On October 15, Zambia beat Chad 1-0 in Yaounde, Cameroon thanks to a Kennedy Musonda second half strike.

“We just have to pick it up from where we left on and collect more than three points from the two games, and then we can say we will see each other in Morocco,” Mulenga said.

Morocco will host next year’s tournament. Zambia has already played Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone in these qualifiers, recording a 2-0 loss and a 3-2 win respectively. They will be aiming to avenge the loss against the Elephants as well as completing a double of Sierra Leone.