Fresh off the back of their COSAFA Cup triumph, Zambia take on Comoros at the Stade Omnisports de Malouzini in the final round of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Saturday.
The Coelacanths have already been eliminated from the qualifiers as they sit third in Group H, four points adrift of second-placed Ivory Coast heading into the final group game.
Match preview
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Comoros endured a truly forgettable campaign in the 2023 COSAFA Cup as they crashed out in the group stages after losing two of their opening three matches.
This was in keeping with their struggles in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where they have picked up two wins and lost three of their five group-stage games so far.
Comoros were last in action in the AFCON qualifiers on June 17, when they picked up a 1-0 victory over Lesotho at the Orlando Stadium courtesy of a 90th-minute winner from Youssouf M'Changama.
With six points from a possible 15, Younes Zerdouk's men are currently third in Group H, five points above rock-bottom Lesotho and four off second-placed Ivory Coast in the final qualifying spot.
While Comoros will be looking to bow out of the qualifying on a high, next up is an opposing side who have won each of their previous four meetings, conceding 10 goals and scoring three since September 2010.
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Zambia, on the other hand, were crowned champions of the COSAFA Cup for the seventh time when they picked up a 1-0 victory over Lesotho in the final in July.
In a cagey affair at the King Zwelithini Stadium, 29-year-old Wisdom Moyela netted the only goal of the game in the 77th minute to deny the Likuena their first COSAFA Cup title.
Zambia now return to action in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where they picked up a resounding 3-0 victory over Ivory Coast in their most recent outing on June 17.
Since suffering a 3-1 loss against Les Elephants in the Group H opener, the Chipolopolo have won each of their subsequent four matches, a run which has seen them return to the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2015.
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Team News
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With his winner against Lesotho, M'Changama now has 11 goals in 57 senior appearances for Comoros and the experienced midfielder will look to deliver the goods once again.
M'Changama should be joined by Faud Bachirou and Yacine Bourhane at the centre of the park, while we expect a front three of Faiz Sulemaani, Ahmed Mogni and 29-year-old Benjaloud Youssouf.
Zambia, on the other hand, have called up an experienced squad for this weekend's showdown, including defender Tandi Mwape and Leicester City striker Patson Daka.
Daka has scored 12 goals in 35 appearances for the Zambian national team and should spearhead the Chipolopolo attack, alongside skipper and Silkeborg forward Lubambo Musonda.
They should be joined in the final third by Qingdao Hainiu striker Evans Kangwa, who has been recalled to the Zambia squad by Grant following a one-year absence.
Comoros possible starting lineup:
Pandor; Bakari, M'Dahoma, Zahary, Youssouf; Bachirou, Bourhane, M'Changama; Seleni, Mogni, Youssouf
Zambia possible starting lineup:
Mulenga; Mwape, Sunzu, Musonda, Kabwe; Kapumbu, K Kangwa, Banda; Musonda, E Kangwa, Daka
We say: Comoros 0-2 Zambia
While Saturday's game is nothing but a dead rubber for the already-eliminated Comoros, Zambia need at least a draw to secure their status as group winners. The Chipolopolo boast a significantly superior and more experienced squad and we fancy them picking up all three points in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
