Zambia scored in the second half to stun Ivory Coast and qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals to be held in Morocco.
The Chipolopolo went into the matchday five fixture needing a win to join the African champions as the teams to have qualified from the group. However, they were forced to wait until the 43rd minute when Kennedy Musonda found the back of the net.
The goal looked to be coming as Zambia pressed Ivory Coast and it was Joseph Sabobo Banda, who laid the the ball to Musonda before he fired home the opener two minutes before the half-time break.
Before the goal, Zambia had missed an opportunity in the 38th minute when Kelvin Kampamba delivered a great cross into the Ivory Coast box but Banda failed to connect well and the ball went away for the visitor’s goal-kick.
In the 55th minute, Banda missed a chance to double Chipolopolo’s advantage from close range. Banda was set through by Kings Kangwa from a Clatous Chama cross but he blasted the ball wide.
Chama, who plays for Young Africans (Yanga SC) in Tanzania, had come in at the start of the second half to replace the injured Kampamba while Ivory Coast made two changes as Simon Adingra was replaced by Jeremie Boga and Evan Guessano paved the way for Oumar Diakite.
Apart from sealing their ticket to the 35th edition of the tournament, the win propelled Zambia to the top of the group with 10 points, one more than the African champions, who dropped to second while Siera Leone remained third on five and Chad last on three.
