Zambia and Comoros are seeking their first wins at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations when the sides meet on Friday.
Ranked 109th by FIFA, Comoros are aiming to build on a respectable showing against host nation and title favourites Morocco in the opening game of the tournament, holding their opponents until Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz broke the deadlock in the 55th minute of their 2-0 defeat.
There was high drama as Zambia rescued a 1-1 against Mali on Monday through Leicester City forward Patson Daka’s 92nd-minute goal.
101GreatGoals.com has the AFCON 2025 team news and starting line-ups as Zambia and Comoros face each other in Casablanca.
Everybody, meet The Coelacanths. 📸
Comoros ready to take Africa by storm in #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 🇰🇲 pic.twitter.com/rer8Kp7ovZ
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 20, 2025
Zambia line-up vs Comoros
Zambia make one change, bringing in 20-year-old Zesco United midfielder David Simukonda for Hibernian’s Miguel Chaiwa.
Zambia starting XI: Willard Mwanza, Mathews Banda, Benson Sakala, Dominic Chanda, Lubambo Musonda, Lameck Banda, Owen Tembo, David Simukonda, Fashion Sakala, Kings Kangwa, Patson Daka
Zambia substitutes: Obino Chisala, Frankie Musonda, Miguel Chaiwa, Jack Lahne, Joseph Sabobo, Wilson Chisala, Kabaso Chongo, Given Kalusa, Lawrence Mulenga, Francis Mwansa, Kennedy Musonda, Pascal Phiri, Gift Mphande, Joseph Liteta, Eliya Mandanji
Comoros starting line-up vs Zambia
Youssouf M’Changama and Rafiki Said were key contributors for Comoros in qualifying, with Said scoring the winner in a famous victory over Tunisia and providing a tireless outlet against Morocco.
Comoros starting XI: Yannick Pandor, Akim Abdallah, Kenan Toibibou, Ahmed Soilihi, Ismael Boura, Said Bakari, Yacine Bourhane, Zaydou Youssouf, Myziane Maolida, Youssouf M’Changama, Rafiki Said
Comoros substitutes: Ben Boina, Iyad Mohamed, Faiz Selamani, Yannis Kari, Aboubacar Ali Abdallah, Kassim M’Dahoma, Aymeric Ahmed, Remy Vita, Bendjaloud Youssouf, Zaid Amir, El Fardou Ben, Adel Anzimati, Idris Mohamed, Raouf Mroivili, Rayan Lutin
How to watch Zambia vs Comoros: TV channel, live online stream
Kick-off on Friday is at 17:30 GMT (12:30 ET / 09:30 PT). In the UK, live AFCON 2025 coverage is on Channel 4’s 4seven, All 4 and YouTube channel. In the USA, beIN Sports is the tournament broadcaster.
Online live streaming is available on a vast range of devices through Channel 4’s website and app and the beIN Sports app.
Zambia vs Comoros stats
- Zambia are winless in 11 AFCON matches as part of a run that started with a 0–0 draw against Ivory Coast in the 2012 final (D9 L2) and are winless in 10 group games (D8 L2)
- A 1–0 win over co-hosts Equatorial Guinea in their final group match in 2012 was their last group-stage victory
- Their last AFCON win in open play was a 1–0 victory over Ghana in the 2012 semi-finals
- Daka scored his 21st international goal and second at the AFCON
- The draw against Mali was Zambia’s 70th match at AFCON and their 20th draw at the finals.
- After conceding in each of their last four AFCON matches, Zambia have not kept a clean sheet at the tournament since they achieved the feat against Cape Verde in 2015
- Three of their last four AFCON matches have ended 1–1, with one defeat.
- They are winless in their second game in their last 11 AFCON appearances (D4 L7), last winning such a game with a 5-1 thrashing of Burkina Faso in 1996
- That tournament was also the last time Zambia started an AFCON campaign with a draw and went on to win their second game
- Comoros remain without a clean sheet in their five games at the finals and have conceded at least two goals in four successive AFCON matches
- This match is Comoros’ first ever AFCON fixture against Southern African opponents
- Their only previous second group match at AFCON ended in a 2–0 defeat to Morocco in 2021
- At the 2021 finals, Comoros lost their opening two matches against Gabon and Morocco
- They have never scored in either of their opening two group matches at the finals ; in 2021, a 1–0 loss to Gabon was followed by a 2–0 defeat to Morocco before they won their final group game 3–2 against Ghana
- Zambia are the fourth former AFCON champion Comoros have faced at the finals, after matches against Morocco (twice), Cameroon and Ghana
- Comoros have conceded nine goals in total at AFCON, with six of those coming in the second half
- Goalkeeper Yannick Pandor made five saves against Morocco, including a penalty save from Soufiane Rahimi – the most by a Comorian goalkeeper since Ben Boina made seven saves against Morocco in 2021
- Comoros’s tally of 30% possession against Morocco was their lowest share of possession in an AFCON match, sending in one attempt on target in each half
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Zambia AFCON 2025 squad
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Francis Mwansa (Zanaco), Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos).
Defenders: Stopilla Sunzu (Changchun), Frankie Musonda (Bahrain SC), Kabaso Chongo (Zesco United), Mathews Banda (Nkana), Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Gift Mphande (Zesco United), Obino Chisala (Al-Merrikh), David Hamansenya (Leganes), Benson Sakala (Bohemians 1905).
Midfielders: Miguel Chaiwa (Hibernian), Owen Tembo (Power Dynamos), Joseph Liteta (Cagliari), Kings Kangwa (Maccabi Be’er Sheva), Given Kalusa (FC Muza), David Simukonda (Zesco United), Wilson Chisala (Zanaco), Pascal Phiri (Zesco United), Joseph Sabobo (Maccabi Be’er Sheva), Lameck Banda (Lecce), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha), Lubambo Musonda (Magdeburg).
Forwards: Patson Daka (Leicester City), Jack Lahne (Austria Lustenau), Kennedy Musonda (Hapoel Ramat Gan), Eliya Mandanji (Zanaco).
Comoros AFCON 2025 squad
Goalkeepers: Yannick Pandor (Royal Francs Borains), Salim Ben Boina (Istres), Adel Anzimati (Ararat Yerevan).
Defenders: Kassim M’Dahoma (Aubagne Air Bel), Ahmed Soilihi (Sc Toulon), Idris Mohamed (Le Puy Foot 43), Kenan Toibibou (NK Bravo), Akim Abdallah (Guingamp), Ismael Boura (Troyes), Yannis Kari (Frejus Saint-Raphael), Said Bakary (Sparta Rotterdam).
Midfielders: Yacine Bourhane (Aris Limassol), Iyad Mohamed (Casa Pia), Raouf Mroivili (FC Villefranche), Youssouf M’Changama (Al-Batin), Rayan Lutin (Amiens), Benjaloud Youssouf (Sochaux), Rémy Vita (Tondela), Zaydou Youssouf (Al-Fateh).
Forwards: Rafiki Said (Standard Liege), Zaid Amir (Istres), Faiz Selemani (Qatar SC), El Fardou Ben Nabouhane (FK Zemun), Myziane Maolida (Al-Kholood), Ahmed Aymeric (Chateauroux), Aboubacar Ali (Royal Francs Borains).
AFCON 2025 fixtures, full Africa Cup of Nations schedule
Sunday, December 21 2025
- Group A: Morocco 2-0 Comoros (Rabat)
Monday, December 22 2025
- Group A: Mali 1-1 Zambia (Casablanca)
- Group B: South Africa 2-1 Angola (Marrakech)
- Group B: Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe (Agadir)
Tuesday, December 23 2025
- Group D: Senegal 3-0 Botswana (Tangie)
- Group D: DR Congo 1-0 Benin (Rabat)
- Group C: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania (Fes)
- Group C: Tunisia 3-1 Uganda (Rabat)
Wednesday, December 24 2025
- Group E: Burkina Faso 2-1 Equatorial Guinea (Casablanca)
- Group E: Algeria 3-0 Sudan (Rabat)
- Group F: Ivory Coast 1-0 Mozambique (Marrakech)
- Group F: Cameroon 1-0 Gabon (Agadir)
Friday, December 26 2025
- Group B: Angola vs Zimbabwe (Marrakech, 12:30)
- Group B: Egypt vs South Africa (Agadir, 15:00)
- Group A: Zambia vs Comoros (Casablanca, 17:30)
- Group A: Morocco vs Mali (Rabat, 20:00)
Saturday, December 27 2025
- Group D: Benin vs Botswana (Rabat, 12:30)
- Group D: Senegal vs DR Congo (Tangier, 15:00)
- Group C: Uganda vs Tanzania (Rabat 3, 17:30)
- Group C: Nigeria vs Tunisia (Fes, 20:00)
Sunday, December 28 2025
- Group F: Gabon vs Mozambique (Agadir, 12:30)
- Group E: Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan (Casablanca, 15:00)
- Group E: Algeria vs Burkina Faso (Rabat, 17:30)
- Group F: Ivory Coast vs Cameroon, (Marrakech, 20:00)
Monday, December 29 2025
- Group B: Angola vs Egypt (Agadir, 16:00)
- Group B: Zimbabwe vs South Africa (Marrakech, 16:00)
- Group A: Comoros vs Mali (Casablanca, 19:00)
- Group A: Zambia vs Morocco (Rabat, 19:00)
Tuesday, December 30 2025
- Group C: Tanzania vs Tunisia (Rabat, 16:00)
- Group C: Uganda vs Nigeria (Fes, 16:00)
- Group D: Benin vs Senegal (Tangier, 19:00)
- Group D: Botswana vs DR Congo (Rabat, 19:00)
Wednesday, December 31 2025
- Group E: Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria (Rabat, 16:00)
- Group E: Sudan vs Burkina Faso (Casablanca, 16:00)
- Group F: Gabon vs Ivory Coast (Marrakech, 19:00)
- Group F: Mozambique vs Cameroon (Agadir, 19:00)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 round of 16
Saturday, January 3 2026
- SR1: Group D winners vs Group B/E/F third-place (Tangier, 16:00)
- SR2: Group A runners-up vs Group C runners-up (Casablanca, 19:00)
Sunday, January 4
- SR3: Group A winners vs Group C/D/E third-place (Rabat, 16:00)
- SR4: Group B runners-up vs Group F runners-up (Rabat, 19:00)
Monday, January 5
- SR5: Group B winners vs Group A/C/D third-place (Agadir, 6pm)
- SR6: Group C winners vs Group A/B/F third-place (Fes, 8:30pm)
Tuesday, January 6
- SR7: Group E winners vs Group D runners-up (Rabat 2, 6pm)
- SR8: Group F winners vs Group E runners-up (Marrakech, 8:30pm)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 quarter-finals
Friday, January 9
- QF1: Winner SR2 vs Winner SR1 (Tangier, 16:00)
- QF2: Winner SR4 vs Winner SR3 (Rabat, 19:00)
Saturday, January 10
- QF3: Winner SR7 vs Winner SR6 (Marrakech, 16:00)
- QF4: Winner SR5 vs Winner SR8 (Agadir, 19:00)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 semi-finals
Wednesday, January 14
- SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4 (Tangier, 17:00)
- SF2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF2 (Rabat, 20:00)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 third-place match
Saturday, January 17
- SF1 vs SF2 losers (Casablanca, 16:00)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final
Sunday, January 18
- SF1 vs SF2 winners (Rabat, 19:00)