Zambia 1-3 Algeria: What Next for Chipolopolo After AFCON Qualifying Defeat?

Zambia’s road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations has started with a setback after the Chipolopolo suffered a 3-1 defeat to Algeria in their opening Group I qualifier in Tizi Ouzou on Friday night. The result leaves Zambia without a point after the opening round, but with five qualifying matches still to play, the […]

Zambia’s road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations has started with a setback after the Chipolopolo suffered a 3-1 defeat to Algeria in their opening Group I qualifier in Tizi Ouzou on Friday night.

The result leaves Zambia without a point after the opening round, but with five qualifying matches still to play, the campaign is far from over. The immediate focus now turns to Tuesday’s home meeting with Togo at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

Algeria took control of the contest almost immediately, with Jaouen Hadjam putting the hosts ahead in the second minute. Zambia struggled to impose themselves during the opening stages as Algeria enjoyed the greater share of possession and controlled the tempo.

The Chipolopolo, however, showed a response after the break.

Fashion Sakala produced Zambia’s moment of quality in the 57th minute, beating defenders before finding the back of the net to bring the visitors level and briefly raise hopes of a comeback.

That hope was short-lived.
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Ibrahim Maza restored Algeria’s lead in the 67th minute before substitute Anis Hadj Moussa added a third seven minutes later, leaving Zambia with a 3-1 defeat.

For interim head coach George Lwandamina, the result highlights the work still required as Zambia attempt to secure qualification for the tournament to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in 2027.

The defeat also makes the next fixture particularly important because Zambia will immediately have an opportunity to respond in front of home supporters.

Zambia face Togo at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Tuesday, September 29, with the match forming the second round of Group I qualifying. Togo will arrive in Zambia after their opening fixture against Burundi, while Algeria will face Burundi in the other Group I match.

CAF’s qualification format means the pressure is significant but there is still plenty of football remaining. The 48 teams in the main qualifying stage are divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams generally advancing to the 2027 finals. The qualifiers are being played over six matchdays, with the remaining rounds scheduled for November 2026 and March 2027.

That means Zambia cannot afford to dwell on the Algeria defeat.

The immediate task is to turn Levy Mwanawasa Stadium into a difficult venue for Togo and secure the first points of the campaign.

The home fixture also gives Lwandamina an opportunity to assess what worked in Algeria and what needs to change. Zambia showed enough attacking quality to score through Sakala, but conceding three goals raises questions about defensive organisation and the team’s ability to withstand pressure against a strong opponent.

The response from the players will therefore be just as important as the result itself.

Sakala’s goal is one positive that Zambia can build on. The forward showed individual quality to bring the Chipolopolo back into the game, while the second-half reaction demonstrated that Zambia were capable of causing Algeria problems once they became more aggressive going forward.

However, the challenge will be converting that response into a complete 90-minute performance.

Zambia will also need to take advantage of home fixtures because the qualification campaign includes three home matches, beginning with Togo and later including Burundi and the return fixture against Algeria.

The Algeria result does not decide Zambia’s AFCON fate, but it does mean the Chipolopolo have little room for another disappointing result in the early stages.

A positive response against Togo would put Zambia back on the board and provide momentum heading into the November international window.

The wider objective remains clear: qualify for AFCON 2027 and return to the continental stage.

For now, the message from the Algeria defeat is simple — the campaign has started badly, but it is only one match into a six-match qualification journey.

The next opportunity comes at home, and Zambia will have to respond.
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