Zambia Fight to Stay Alive in Group E After Morocco Defeat

Zambia are battling to keep their slim qualification hopes alive in Group E of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after a damaging 2–0 home loss to Morocco left them on just six points. With two fixtures remaining, the Chipolopolo must win both and hope other results go their way to stand any chance of finishing second and reaching the play-offs.

Group leaders Morocco, already qualified with 21 points, have stretched far ahead of the pack, leaving the rest of the section contesting only for positioning. Tanzania’s unexpected 1–0 defeat to Niger in Dar es Salaam has tightened the race for the runners-up spot. The Taifa Stars remain on 10 points, but Niger’s Issa Sosah struck in the 58th minute to claim a vital away victory, lifting the Ménas to nine points with a game in hand.

The result means Zambia’s task is even steeper. They must leapfrog both Niger and Tanzania while fending off potential upsets in their final matches. Their inconsistent campaign—marked by missed chances and defensive lapses—has now left them relying not only on maximum points but also on favorable outcomes elsewhere.

Zambia’s next clash will be pivotal, as another setback would effectively end their World Cup dream. The Chipolopolo will need sharper finishing and tighter defending if they are to recover from the disappointment against Morocco and make a late surge.

With Group E’s runners-up berth wide open, all eyes will be on Zambia’s response in the final window—whether they can summon the resilience and quality to keep their campaign alive.