Zambia’s national team had a disappointing start to their 2025 African National Championships (CHAN) campaign, losing 2-0 to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in their opening match in Nairobi, Kenya.
Despite a slow start, Zambia eventually settled into the game and dominated possession for much of the first half. However, neither side managed to create a clear scoring opportunity, and the teams went into halftime with the score tied at 0-0.
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The second half was a different story. The DRC came out with renewed purpose and broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when Ibrahim Matobo’s strike beat Zambian goalkeeper Willard Mwanza. Their lead was extended in the 71st minute after a mistake by Kelvin Kampamba led to a swift counterattack, allowing Horso Mwaku to score from an assist by Oscar Kabwit Tshikomb.
The loss puts Zambia in a tough position, while the victory moves the DRC into second place in Group A, behind Morocco, who defeated Angola 2-0.
Zambia’s head coach, Avram Grant, attributed the loss to a lack of preparation, noting that it was the first time the team had played together competitively. He expressed confidence that the team would perform better in their upcoming match.
“We did not play well; this is the first time this team is playing together, we didn’t have friendly matches before the competition,” said Grant.
Zambia will now face Angola on Sunday in a crucial match to keep their qualification hopes alive.
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