World Cup (Q): Zambia deserved to beat ‘difficult’ Tanzania – Grant

Zambia national team coach Avram Grant has credited the team’s 1-0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying victory against Tanzania to improved second half display at New Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on Wednesday.

After a 0-0 outcome in the first half, the Chipolopolo stunned Taifa Stars in the 74th minute when captain Kabaso Chongo switched play to Lubambo Musonda, who brilliantly set up Fashion Sakala for a close-range tap-in and give them what turned out to be the winner.

Zambia’s focus is to finish second in the group

According to Grant, Taifa Stars gave them a difficult game especially in the first half, but added the victory had set them up to achieve their target of finishing second in Group E.

“It was a tough match, Tanzania played very well, they really fought for the ball, and we had a lot of difficulties, but we managed to deal with it, and I think we deserved the win, the players gave everything, and it was good to win again after five games, it is not easy to win away, I am happy for the win,” said Grant after the game.

“Our focus is to finish in second place, and to achieve this now we have to beat Niger, if we win against them, probably we move to second place, and for me, Zambia is improving in every game, and we need to win every game, we need to win, we want to win every game, it also a good preparations for Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where we qualified second time, after a long time we didn’t qualify.

“I think first half I was not happy from the performance, we didn’t manage to pass the ball ,like we wanted, to pass the ball quickly forward, but Tanzania gave us a lot of problem, but second half was better, we played better than the second half, it was not one of our greatest game but deserved to win.

“Tanzania posed us a lot of problems, they didn’t give us space to play especially in the first half, and in the second half we changed the system, and I think it was the best way to win the game, we created chances and we won.”

Despite the hard earned win, Chipolopolo remained fourth in their group with nine points, behind Tanzania (10 points) and Niger (12 points), who defeated Congo Brazzaville 3-0 on the same night to move into second place.

Zambia will wind up their group matches with a home game against Niger at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Sunday.