Exclusive: “Chipolopolo Boys Can Conquer Africa”- Patrick Phiri

At the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will take place in Morocco, former Zambia National Team coach Patrick Phiri has projected that the Chipolopolo lads will have enough experience to go head-to-head with teams like Morocco, Senegal, and Egypt.

In 2002 and 2006, Phiri served as the Chipolopolo boys' coach. He led Zambia to an AFCON qualifying in Ghana during his second term, which lasted from 2006 to 2008, and he won two regional cups: the CECAFA Cup in 2007 and the COSAFA Cup in 2006.

However, following Zambia's early elimination from the 2008 African Cup of Nations, French men, Herve Renard took his position. Renard led Zambia to their maiden AFCON trophy in 2012.

At the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in November 2024, Zambia defeated reigning champions Ivory Coast 1-0 to earn back-to-back AFCON qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations under former Ghana coach Avram Grant.

Zambia qualified as Group F winners with 13 points ahead of Ivory Coast on 12 points with Sierra Leone and Chad finishing with 5 and 3 points respectively.

MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF PLAY

Phiri has discussed things that the technical bench, under the direction of Israeli coach Avram Grant, must accomplish in order to guarantee the team's success at the AFCON in Morocco the next year.

"The technical bench needs to prepare the boys to be fit for the tournament, there is a difference between being fit for the qualifiers and the tournament, that must be the priority of the technical bench ahead of the AFCON," Phiri told SportsBoom.com.

When asked if the 2012 African champions Zambia have a chance to win the 2025 title, Phiri, who led the U20 Zambian side to the 1999 FIFA World Cup in Nigeria said the Chipolopolo boys are a strong contender.

"Zambia is a football nation, each given moment, we have the arsenal to deliver for the nation. All teams that have qualified to the tournament have a chance to win the AFCON. Statistics and rankings are not a guarantee for a successful outing. Look at what is happening to Manchester City, they have endured a period of poor results most recently.

"What differentiates the winner from losers is the conviction to win. To have the positive mentality is key, we need to be aim high, there is no need to limit your progression at the tournament like the AFCON, always aim beyond the group stage."

He said that Zambia exited at the group stage during the last edition of AFCON in Ivory Coast, due to lack of experience. "We didn't have experience in the team, but we didn't leave the tournament, empty handed, we came back with knowledge which we have applied to get back to the AFCON on two consecutive times" He called for the deployment of multiple tactics as the team will be preparing for the 2025 AFCON.

"You need a couple of tactics, you need plan A, B and C in order to be competitive, you cannot go to a tournament like AFCON with one style of play, you need a couple of those, and your players need to be fast to adapt to new formations" 

COSAFA CUP DOMINANCE 

Commenting on the recent dominance of junior sides at the COSAFA tournaments, Phiri said this is due to consistent investments by clubs in youth football with technical support from the FA.

"Investment and learning from past poor outings at the COSAFA have been a key ingredient for the current dominance; all must rally behind Government and FAZ to motivate the young men to excel for flag and country."

The Copper Princesses of Zambia defeated Lesotho 15-0 to capture their second COSAFA title in the recently concluded 2024 COSAFA U17 competitions for boys and girls. After Florence Mwila led the senior women's team to their second regional championship early this year, Carol Kanyemba became the second female coach from Zambia to win the COSAFA title.

After winning the first Cosafa trophy in 2017, the U-17 boys went on to win four more in 2019, 2022, and 2024. "These achievements are a reflection of hard work by the coaches, players and develop a crop of young players that can rise to the occasion when called upon to don the national jersey. It is now, time for the FA and all stakeholders to ensure the available talent is used to conquer the African continental."

Zambia holds the longest unbeaten run in the COSAFA Cup since its inception in 1997. The Chipolopolo Boys went 11 matches unbeaten before they were heartbroken by Angola in 1999. 

LOOKING AHEAD

The current generation of Chipolopolo lads, according to Patrick Phiri, who coached Zambia twice between 2002 and 2008, have enough experience to win their second AFCON championship at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Zambia has dominated the regional tournament for the past four years.