Zambia Aims for Winning Start in Futsal AFCON Opener Against Ghana
The Zambian National Futsal team kicks off their TotalEnergies Futsal Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign today against Ghana at the Salle Moulay Abdellah Indoor Sporting Arena in Rabat, Morocco.
This marks Zambia’s third appearance at the continental championship, having previously participated in 2008 (first round exit) and 2016 (fourth place finish). They qualified for the 2024 edition after defeating Mozambique in the qualifiers.
Head coach Andrea Cristoforetti has set his sights on securing a vital win against Ghana, emphasizing the importance of a strong start for qualification to the FIFA Futsal World Cup. “Our goal is to fight for a World Cup spot, but that requires us to perform well here,” he said. “We need to win two games, and with Morocco likely a tough opponent, our focus is on Ghana.”
Skipper Chileshe Chota expressed confidence in his team’s abilities. “We are not afraid of any opponent,” he declared. “We are focused on what we do on the pitch.”
This will be the first-ever meeting between Zambia and Ghana in Futsal AFCON. Ghana, participating for the second time after a 28-year absence, finished runners-up in 1996. Their coach, Philip Boakye, acknowledged Zambia’s strength and promised a competitive match.
Zambia (world ranking 90th, Africa 7th) faces an unranked Ghana in Group A, which also includes Morocco and Angola. Group B features record champions Egypt, Libya, Namibia, and Mauritania.
The top two teams from each group progress to the semifinals, while the top three teams earn a qualification spot for the FIFA Futsal World Cup to be held in Uzbekistan later this year.
