Christopher Katongo, captain of Zambia’s 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winning team, has urged the nation to avoid putting pressure on the current squad ahead of the upcoming tournament. He shared his views with FAZ Media and said he was pleased to see Zambia return to regular AFCON qualification. He noted that consistent participation is the strongest path back to top performance.
Katongo said the team is still in a learning phase. He explained that Zambia spent several years being eliminated in the first round, and each early exit offered lessons that helped the team grow. He encouraged fans to allow the players time to build experience.
He said the country should not demand a tournament win from the current squad. He added that winning the Africa Cup requires experience and repeated participation. He said he knows this firsthand because he went through the same process during his playing career.
Katongo reminded the nation that Zambia endured early eliminations in 2006, 2008 and 2010 before winning the title in 2012. He said this showed the value of consistency. The more often a team qualifies, the more it can compete at higher levels. He described qualification as the best way to stay competitive and avoid falling behind stronger teams.
He said qualifying for AFCON is a positive step, but the team must now focus on the work ahead. He stressed the need for preparation on the ground and urged patience as the squad continues to grow.
Zambia has been placed in Group A with Morocco, Mali and Comoros. The tournament will run from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco. Katongo believes steady progress, not pressure, will give Zambia the best chance to compete with strong teams in the years ahead.