Zambia and Comoros return to action on Friday as they square off in their second Group A fixture of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations at the Stade Mohammed V, with both sides keen to strengthen their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.
Zambia sit second in the group after salvaging a late 1-1 draw against Mali in their opener, while Comoros find themselves bottom of the standings following a 2-0 defeat to tournament hosts Morocco.
Match Preview
Zambia may have missed out on maximum points in their opening match, but the Chipolopolo will take encouragement from their display against Mali, especially given the difficult run of form they carried into the tournament.
After falling behind to a Lassine Sinayoko strike, Zambia struggled to carve out clear chances for much of the contest. However, perseverance paid off deep into stoppage time when Patson Daka rose highest to head home an equaliser and rescue a point.
The result extended Zambia’s winless run at the Africa Cup of Nations to 10 matches (eight draws and two defeats), but it also halted a worrying streak of four consecutive losses across all competitions. With confidence slowly returning, Moses Sichone’s side know that victory on Friday would put them in a strong position to challenge for a place in the knockout rounds.
That said, Zambia face a tricky opponent. They are winless in their last three meetings with Comoros, recording one draw and two defeats, and will need to be sharper in the final third after creating just two clear-cut chances against Mali.
Comoros, meanwhile, knew their opening encounter against hosts Morocco would be a stern test. Stefano Cusin’s men showed admirable organisation in the first half, frustrating the Atlas Lions and keeping the score level at the break before conceding twice after the interval.
Despite the defeat, Comoros earned plaudits for their discipline and work rate, although the result means they are now winless in their last five matches (excluding penalty shootouts), with four of those ending in defeat. Another loss could leave them staring at an early exit from the tournament.
Encouragingly, the Comorians can draw confidence from their recent record against Zambia, having remained unbeaten against the Chipolopolo since September 2023 (two wins and a draw). Turning that psychological edge into points, however, will require greater attacking efficiency.
Team News
Zambia head coach Moses Sichone is expected to show faith in the side that started against Mali. Goalkeeper Francis Mwansa, who made a crucial penalty save in the opener, should continue between the posts, while the defensive unit of Mathews Banda, Benson Sakala, Dominic Chanda and Frankie Musonda is also likely to remain unchanged.
Up front, Patson Daka is set to lead the line once again after his late heroics, with Lameck Banda and Fashion Sakala providing width and support.
Comoros are also expected to keep changes to a minimum. Goalkeeper Yannick Pandor, another penalty-saving hero on Matchday One, should retain his place, while Rafik Said will once again shoulder the goalscoring responsibility.
Possible Line-ups
Zambia:
Mwansa; M. Banda, B. Sakala, Chanda, Musonda; Chaiwa, Kangwa, Tembo; F. Sakala, Daka, L. Banda
Comoros:
Pandor; Toibubu, Soilihi, Kari, Boura; B. Youssouf, Z. Youssouf, Mohammed, Selemani; N’Changama, Said
Prediction
Zambia 2-1 Comoros
Comoros’ recent dominance in this fixture could give them belief, but their overall form remains a concern. Zambia’s experience, coupled with renewed confidence after their opening draw, may prove decisive in a closely contested encounter, with the Chipolopolo tipped to edge a narrow victory.
