Zambia secured their ticket to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after claiming a surprise 3-0 win over Ivory Coast in a Group H qualifier at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Avram Grant's side staved off early pressure from the Afcon 2023 hosts to open the scoring on 31 minutes courtesy of Serge Aurier's own-goal before Patson Daka and Kings Kangwa wrapped up the victory early in the second half.
The Copper Bullets moved into top spot as they brought an end to the Elephants' unbeaten record in the qualifying campaign to reach the continental showpiece for the first time since the 2015 edition.
? 31’ Aurier (OG)
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) June 17, 2023
? 48’ Daka
? 55’ Kangwa
???? Zambia brush aside Cote d’Ivoire to book their spot at the next edition of AFCON with a convincing win at home.
Zambia were looking to make it four wins on the spin in qualifying since they lost 3-1 in Yamoussoukro on matchday 1, while Ivory Coast hoped to retain top spot in the group after going unbeaten in their opening four matches.
The visitors bossed proceedings in the first half and won a couple of early corners, but they had to wait until the 19th minute for the first real sniff at goal as Franck Kessie lined up a shot from outside the box that drifted to the right of the target.
Emmanuel Banda then went close at the other end two minutes later when he fired just wide of the near post after meeting Lubambo Musonda's cross inside the area on the left and the action quickly switched to the opposite end with Ibrahim Sangare blazing high and wide from range.
However, the hosts took a fortuitous lead against the run of play on 31 minutes as Aurier diverted the ball into the back of his own net just moments after Jonathan Bamba had forced Lawrence Mulenga into a save with a shot from inside the box on the left.
FIFTH INTERNATIONAL GOAL FOR KANGWA
Ivory Coast went in search of an equaliser and finished the half strongly, with Christian Kouame lining up a shot from range that was comfortably saved by Mulenga on 45 minutes before the Fiorentina striker could only hit the side-netting from the right side of the 18-yard area in stoppage time.
They were caught napping just three minutes into the second half though, when Daka found space inside the six-yard box to beat Charles Folly Ayayi from close range.
The Elephants looked for a swift response and Simon Deli was a whisker away from restoring parity on 54 minutes with a header that struck the left post from a free-kick before the Copper Bullets extended their lead within seconds.
Emmanuel Banda saw his shot come back off the near post from inside the box on the left, but Kangwa reacted quickest to slot home the rebound for his fifth international goal.
Aurier had an opportunity to make amends for his earlier misfortune when he got on the end of a 61st-minute corner, but only succeeded in steering his header wide of the left post, while Sangare failed to keep his strike down from distance four minutes later.
Roderick Kabwe threatened to make it a rout on 74 minutes when he drew a fine save out of Ayayi with a long-range effort before Max Gradel tested Mulenga twice in the space of three minutes in the closing stages and Simon Adingra also produced a save out of the Zambia goalkeeper with a header in the 82nd minute.
Lameck Banda was presented with a late chance to add gloss to the scoreline when he managed to make contact with Musonda's cross deep into stoppage time, but saw his header fly inches wide of the left post.
???? Zambia are 2023 #TotalEnergiesAFCON bound ??
— CAF (@CAF_Online) June 17, 2023
The Copper Bullets will make their 18th appearance in the competition ?? #TotalEnergiesAFCONQ2023 | @FAZFootball pic.twitter.com/xNR8ok6KiX
Zambia (1) 3 (Aurier OG 31', Daka 48', Kangwa 55')
Ivory Coast 0
Zambia: L. Mulenga, T. Mwape, S. Sunzu, F. Musonda, R. Kabwe, K. Kapumbu, L. Musonda, K. Kangwa (R. Bwalya 90+3'), E. Banda, F. Sakala (L. Banda 89'), P. Daka.
Ivory Coast: C. Folly Ayayi, S. Aurier, E. Bailly (E. Agbadou 68'), S. Deli, G. Konan, I. Sangare, I. Doumbia (S. Adingra 46'), F. Kessie, C. Kouame (K. Konate 62'), J. Bamba (J. Kouassi 62'), J. Krasso (M. Gradel 62').