Zambia Qualify for CHAN After Mozambique Withdrawal

16.12.2024 | Football DNA

The Zambia National Team has secured automatic qualification to the 2024 (to be played in 2025) African Nations Championship (CHAN) following the withdrawal of the Mozambique National Team from the qualifying stage.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed Zambia's qualification in an official communication to the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga shared the news, quoting CAF’s correspondence:

“Following the withdrawal of Mozambique from the CHAN 2024 qualifiers, please be informed that Zambia has qualified directly for the final tournament of CHAN 2024.”

While Zambia would have preferred to earn their spot through competition, Kamanga expressed satisfaction with the result. “We would have loved to qualify by playing the two matches, but we are still happy that our team will join many others that have qualified for CAF tournaments next year,” he said.

Focus Shifts to Tournament Preparations

With the qualification confirmed, preparations are now underway for the tournament, which will take place in February 2025 in East Africa. Kamanga highlighted the importance of readiness:

“For now, we will encourage the technical bench to work on a program for preparations so that we can be ready by the time we head to East Africa. Inevitably, the team will play a few friendly matches as part of preparations for the CHAN.”

Zambia will now turn their attention to ensuring the team is in peak form for the tournament, where they will compete against the continent’s best.

#GoZambia #CHAN2024 #CopperBullets