Chipolopolo Gear Up for AFCON Qualifiers with Argentina Clash

Zambia to face World champs Argentina in high-profile friendly

Zambia's national team Chipolopolo to face reigning world champions Argentina in friendly match on March 31, 2026. Zambia uses Argentina friendly and Four Nations tournament to prep for 2027 AFCON qualifiers.

Lwandamina's Zambia squad to face Argentina and compete in Botswana's Four Nations Tournament ahead of AFCON qualifiers...

Zambia's national team, Chipolopolo, are set to face off against world champions Argentina in a high-profile friendly during the FIFA international break.

The match is scheduled to take place at the iconic La Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires on March 31, 2026, as confirmed by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ).

Lengwe described the Zambia-Argentina clash as a “monumental opportunity” for Chipolopolo to test themselves against top-notch global talent.

The team for the Argentina match will be led by head coach George Lwandamina, while Osward Mutapa will take charge of a squad featuring local players and young guns preparing for the Olympics at the Botswana 4-Nations Tournament.

Argentina's Friendly Match with Zambia Signals Deep Respect

“We have received an invitation to play Argentina, and it is an opportunity we simply cannot pass up,” Lengwe told FAZ media while confirming the friendly.

“When the world champions come calling, you answer. It is a clear sign of the respect Zambia has continued to earn on the global stage. However, since this fixture falls at the same time as the Four Nations Tournament, we have decided to send our local assemblage to Francistown.”

The squads for the match will be selected based on performances during Zambia's ongoing training camp in Lusaka, according to FAZ Acting General Secretary Iva Lengwe.

“Since we have already confirmed to FIFA that we are taking part in the Olympics, the four - nations tournament is a good platform for us to launch preparations for our Olympics team that will consist of both local and foreign - based players. The selection of both teams is expected to be thorough,” added Lengwe.

The Argentina friendly is a week after Lwandamina named his 38-man provisional squad for the Four Nations Tournament in Botswana.

Lwandamina, who replaced Moses Sichone, has called up 15 foreign-based players, including Scotland's Chanka Zimba and Kingstone Mutandwa, who's back after recovering from injury.

Zimba's been on Zambia's radar, and he's expected to debut after completing his naturalisation process, joining players like Frankie Musonda and Jack Lahne in donning the Chipolopolo colours.

Lwandamina's squad blends experience with youth, featuring U-17 FIFA World Cup stars like skipper Jonathan Kalimina, Abel Nyirongo, and goalie Christo Chitambala, showing his faith in the young guns.

Zambia's national team, Chipolopolo, is using their friendly match against Argentina as preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. Coach George Lwandamina has retained faith in seasoned campaigners like Patson Daka, Fashion Sakala, Lubambo Musonda, and Willard Mwanza, who were part of the 2025 AFCON squad in Morocco.

The friendly match is part of Zambia's build-up to the Four Nations Tournament in Botswana, which will also feature Malawi and Zimbabwe. The tournament will serve as a crucial platform for Lwandamina to test his squad ahead of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.

Zambia's Argentina friendly and the Four Nations tournament are crucial prep for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, which kick off in September. The qualifiers for Kenya-Tanzania-Uganda AFCON 2027 will be a tight turnaround, happening from September to November.

Argentina, the reigning men's world champions, won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and hold the title until 2026. Brazil's the all-time leader with five World Cup wins (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002).

Zambia's Francistown-bound squad leaves on March 25, with the Buenos Aires trip set for March 27.

Zambia squad unveiled by Lwandamina

Goalkeepers: Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos), Christo Chitambala (Red Arrows), Victor Chabu (Nchanga Rangers), Patrick Chooma (Nkana).

Defenders: Owen Mwamba (Mufulira Wanderers), Dominic Chanda, Khondwani Chiboni (both Power Dynamos), Yoram Chanda, (Kabwe Warriors), Tinklar Sinkala, Frederick Mwimanzi (both Zanaco), Brian Chilimina (Red Arrows), Mathews Banda (Bohemians-Czech Republic), Joseph Mulenga (Nchanga Rangers), David Hamansenya (SK Artis Brno-Czech Republic), Jonathan Kalimina (Kafue Celtic.

Midfielders: Given Kalusa, Kelvin Mwanza (both FC Muza), Humphrey Bwembya, Francis Banda (both Kabwe Warriors), Miguel Chaiwa (Hibernian-Scotland), Joseph Liteta (Cagliari-Italy), Wilson Chisala (Zanaco), Frederick Mulambia, Owen Tembo (both Power Dynamos), David Simukonda (Cleopatra-Egypt), Lameck Banda (Lecce-Italy), Obino Chisala (El Merreikh-Sudan), Lubambo Musonda (Magdeburg-Germany).

Forwards: Patson Daka (Leicester-England), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha-Saudi Arabia), Kelvin Chipelu (Forest Rangers), Albert Kangwanda (Red Arrows), Pascal Phiri (Pyramids-Egypt), Chanka Zimba (Inverness, Caledonian Thistle-Scotland), Elia Mandanji (Zanaco), Kingstone Mutandwa (SV Ried-Austria), Abel Nyirongo (Atletico), Jack Lahne (Lustenua-Austria).

LWANDAMINA UNPACKS 38-BULLETS FOR 4-NATIONS TOURNAMENT! #WeAreChipolopolo, #FIFAwindow pic.twitter.com/iE9kC9V1qB

— FAZ (@FAZFootball) March 11, 2026