Zambia drew 1-1 with Comoros to finish their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers as winners of Group H on Saturday.
Just before the halftime break, Benjaloud Youssouf scored a thunderbolt free kick in the 45th minute for the home side who dominated much of the first stanza. In the second half, a cross from the right wing found Patson Daka in the box, and his first touch was enough to square the scores in the 71st minute and give Zambia the vital goal they needed to win the group.
Despite beating Lesotho 1-0 earlier in the day, Ivory Coast finished second in the group with 13 points, level with Zambia but inferior on goal difference and head-to-head, while Comoros is third with 7 points and Lesotho is last with a point.
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Meanwhile, Daka has now scored ten goals in the last two AFCON qualifiers. He scored five goals in the 2021 campaign and was the joint-top scorer with Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen. In the 2023 campaign, the Leicester City striker has scored five goals in six goals equalling his tally of the previous qualifiers.
On the other hand, Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant remains unbeaten since taking over Zambia in December 2022. In five games, the former Chelsea and Ghana National coach has won three, drawn one, and lost none.
Grant and the Chipolopolo Boys will now turn their attention to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Zambia are in drawn in Group E alongside Morocco, Congo, Tanzania, Niger and Eritrea. They will open their campaign at home against Congo-Brazzaville on matchday one, before going to Niger on matchday two on November 14 and 21 respectively.