On Saturday, June 17, 2023, Zambia secured their qualification for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with an impressive victory over Ivory Coast, joining the list of qualified teams.
In a dominant performance in Ndola, Zambia defeated Ivory Coast 3-0, with Serge Aurier scoring an own goal in the first half, followed by goals from Patson Daka and Kings Kangwa in the second half.
This victory propelled Zambia to the top of Group H and ensured their place in the AFCON finals. It will be their first appearance in the tournament since 2015, having previously won the continental title in 2012.
Meanwhile, Angola secured a crucial 2-1 away win against a 10-man Central African Republic in Douala, putting them level on points with Ghana at the top of Group E and edging closer to qualification.
In other matches, Comoros claimed a 1-0 away win over Lesotho, Equatorial Guinea defeated Tunisia 1-0, and South Africa overcame Morocco 2-1 in a clash between already-qualified teams.
Botswana also registered a 1-0 victory over Libya in a Group J encounter, securing their first win in the qualifiers.
The AFCON qualifying matches will continue on Sunday, June 18, with Nigeria facing Sierra Leone and Ghana taking on Madagascar in crucial encounters.
Overall, the qualifying stage of AFCON has been filled with exciting matches and intense competition as teams battle for a place in the prestigious tournament.
AFCON qualifying results, Saturday 17 June
Central African Republic 1-2 Angola
Zambia 3-0 Ivory Coast
Lesotho 0-1 Comoros
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Tunisia
South Africa 2-1 Morocco
Botswana 1-0 Libya
