Zambia and Congo will set the tone underway in Group E of the qualifiers when they hold it down at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium this afternoon (Friday).
The Red Devils of Congo head into this clash off the back of another abysmal AFCON qualifying campaign and will hope to get their quest for a first World Cup appearance off on a good note.
Zambia rounded off their international friendly schedule for the year on October 17 when they dazzled to a resounding 3-0 victory over Uganda as they handed them their fourth defeat in five games.
With the victory over the Cranes, Avram Grant's men have now gone unbeaten in six of their last seven matches across all competitions, a run which saw them clinch a record-extending seventh COSAFA Cup title in July.
The Chipolopolo who are ranked 81st in the latest FIFA World Rankings, will look to continue their fantastic run of results on home soil as they look to begin their quest for a maiden World Cup appearance in 2026 on a high as they flip the page with Congo this afternoon.
Congo, on the other hand were plunged in wailing as they put up an uninspiring qualifying campaign as their dreams of participating in the 2023 AFCON were dashed as they finished third in Group G, three points behind runners-up Gambia.
The Red Devils, whose last appearance in the biannual tourney came back in 2015 when they reached the quarter-finals, managed just two wins in their six matches while picking up one draw and losing three.
Congo head into Friday's group opener off the back of a 2-2 draw against Gambia on September 10, a result which culminates their recent struggles as they painfully threw away a two-goal lead in the final 11 minutes of the match.
In 2023, the Red Devils lost five of their six matches across all competitions, losing three and picking up two draws - a run which saw them crash out of the AFCON in the group stages back in January.
While Congo will look to pick up a dream start to their ambition for a first World Cup appearance, today’s game trench’s them against a Zambia side who are unbeaten in 13 of their last 14 encounters, recording eight wins and five draws since March 1974.
KICKOFF: 16:00 GMT (4:00pm)
By: Pascal Amoah
