CAN 2025: starting lineups, teams

Zambia and Comoros look to claim their first victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations when the two teams meet on Friday.

Ranked 109th by FIFA, Comoros aim to build on a respectable performance against hosts and title favorites Morocco in the tournament’s opening match, holding their opponents in check until Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz broke the deadlock in the 55th minute of their 2-0 defeat.

There was drama when Zambia rescued a 1-1 against Mali on Monday thanks to Leicester City striker Patson Daka’s 92nd-minute goal.

101GreatGoals.com breaks down the AFCON 2025 team news and starting line-ups as Zambia and Comoros clash in Casablanca.

Everyone, here are the Coelacanths. 📸

Comoros ready to conquer Africa #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 🇰🇲 pic.twitter.com/rer8Kp7ovZ

– CAN TotalEnergies 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 20, 2025

Line-ups of Zambia against Comoros

Zambia make one change, bringing in 20-year-old Zesco United midfielder David, who they joined for Hibernian’s Miguel Chaiwa.

Zambia starting eleven: Willard Mwanza, Mathews Banda, Benson Sakala, Dominic Chanda, Lubambo Musonda, Lameck Banda, Owen Tembo, David Simukonda, Fashion Sakala, Kings Kangwa, Patson Daka

Zambia substitutes: Obino Chisala, Frankie Musonda, Miguel Chaiwa, Jack Lahne, Joseph Sabobo, Wilson Chisala, Kabaso Chongo, Given Kalusa, Lawrence Mulenga, Francis Mwansa, Kennedy Musonda, Pascal Phiri, Gift Mphande, Joseph Liteta, Eliya Mandanji

Comoros starting lineup against Zambia

Youssouf M’Changama and Rafiki Said were key contributors for Comoros in qualifying, with Said scoring the winner in a famous victory against Tunisia and providing a tireless outlet against Morocco.

Comoros starting eleven: Yannick Pandor, Akim Abdallah, Kenan Toibibou, Ahmed Soilihi, Ismael Boura, Said Bakari, Yacine Bourhane, Zaydou Youssouf, Myziane Maolida, Youssouf M’Changama, Rafiki Said

Comoros substitutes: Ben Boina, Iyad Mohamed, Faiz Selamani, Yannis Kari, Aboubacar Ali Abdallah, Kassim M’Dahoma, Aymeric Ahmed, Rémy Vita, Bendjaloud Youssouf, Zaid Amir, El Fardou Ben, Adel Anzimati, Idris Mohamed, Raouf Mroivili, Rayan Lutin

How to watch Zambia vs Comoros: TV channel, live stream online

Kick-off on Friday will be at 5:30 p.m. GMT (12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT). In the UK, live CAN 2025 coverage is on Channel 4’s 4seven, All 4 and YouTube channels. In the USA, beIN Sports is the tournament broadcaster.

Online live streaming is available on a wide range of devices via Channel 4 website and the beIN Sports app and app.

Statistics Zambia vs Comoros

• Zambia are winless in 11 AFCON matches in a series that began with a 0-0 draw against Ivory Coast in the 2012 final (D9 L2) and are winless in 10 group matches (D8 L2).
• A 1–0 victory over co-hosts Equatorial Guinea in their final group match in 2012 was their last group stage victory.
• Their last AFCON victory in open play was a 1-0 win over Ghana in the 2012 semi-finals.
• Daka scored his 21st international goal and his second at the CAN
• The draw against Mali was Zambia’s 70th match at the AFCON and their 20th final draw.
• Having conceded in each of their last four AFCON matches, Zambia have not kept a clean sheet at the tournament since achieving the feat against Cape Verde in 2015.
• Three of their last four CAN matches ended 1-1, with one defeat.
• They are winless in their second match in their last 11 AFCON appearances (4 draws, 7 losses), their last victory in such a match coming in a 5-1 win over Burkina Faso in 1996.
• This tournament was also the last time Zambia started an AFCON campaign with a draw and won their second match.
• Comoros remain without a clean sheet in their five finals matches and have conceded at least two goals in four successive AFCON matches
• This match is the very first CAN match against opponents from southern Africa.
• Their only second group match at the AFCON ended in a 2-0 defeat against Morocco in 2021.
• During the 2021 final phase, Comoros lost their first two matches against Gabon and Morocco.
• They never scored in either of their first two finals group matches; in 2021, a 1-0 defeat to Gabon was followed by a 2-0 defeat to Morocco before winning their final group match 3-2 against Ghana.
• Zambia is the fourth former CAN champion that the Comoros face in the final phase, after matches against Morocco (twice), Cameroon and Ghana.
• The Comoros conceded nine goals in total during the CAN, including six in the second half.
• Goalkeeper Yannick Pandor made five saves against Morocco, including a penalty from Soufiane Rahimi – the most by a Comorian goalkeeper since Ben Boina made seven saves against Morocco in 2021.
• Comoros’ 30% possession total against Morocco was their lowest share of possession in an AFCON match, with one attempt on target in each half.

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Zambia team for CAN 2025

Goalkeepers: Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Francis Mwansa (Zanaco), Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos).

Defenders: Stopilla Sunzu (Changchun), Frankie Musonda (Bahrain SC), Kabaso Chongo (Zesco United), Mathews Banda (Nkana), Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Gift Mphande (Zesco United), Obino Chisala (Al-Merrikh), David Hamansenya (Leganes), Benson Sakala (Bohemians 1905).

Midfield: Miguel Chaiwa (Hibernian), Owen Tembo (Power Dynamos), Joseph Liteta (Cagliari), Kings Kangwa (Maccabi Be’er Sheva), Given Kalusa (FC Muza), David Simukonda (Zesco United), Wilson Chisala (Zanaco), Pascal Phiri (Zesco United), Joseph Sabobo (Maccabi Be’er Sheva), Lameck Banda (Lecce), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha), Lubambo Musonda (Magdeburg).

Advantages: Patson Daka (Leicester City), Jack Lahne (Austria Lustenau), Kennedy Musonda (Hapoel Ramat Gan), Eliya Mandanji (Zanaco).

Comoros team for CAN 2025

Goalkeepers: Yannick Pandor (Francs Royals Borains), Salim Ben Boina (Istres), Adel Anzimati (Ararat Yerevan).

Defenders: Kassim M’Dahoma (Aubagne Air Bel), Ahmed Soilihi (Sc Toulon), Idris Mohamed (Le Puy Foot 43), Kenan Toibibou (NK Bravo), Akim Abdallah (Guingamp), Ismael Boura (Troyes), Yannis Kari (Frejus Saint-Raphael), Said Bakary (Sparta Rotterdam).

Midfield: Yacine Bourhane (Aris Limassol), Iyad Mohamed (Casa Pia), Raouf Mroivili (FC Villefranche), Youssouf M’Changama (Al-Batin), Rayan Lutin (Amiens), Benjaloud Youssouf (Sochaux), Rémy Vita (Tondela), Zaydou Youssouf (Al-Fateh).

Advantages: Rafiki Said (Standard de Liège), Zaid Amir (Istres), Faiz Selemani (Qatar SC), El Fardou Ben Nabouhane (FK Zemun), Myziane Maolida (Al-Kholood), Ahmed Aymeric (Chateauroux), Aboubacar Ali (Royal Francs Borains).

CAN 2025 schedule, full schedule of the African Cup of Nations

Sunday December 21, 2025

• Group A: Morocco 2-0 Comoros (Rabat)

Monday December 22, 2025

• Group A: Mali 1-1 Zambia (Casablanca)
• Group B: South Africa 2-1 Angola (Marrakech)
• Group B: Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe (Agadir)

Tuesday December 23, 2025

• Group D: Senegal 3-0 Botswana (Tangie)
• Group D: DR Congo 1-0 Benin (Rabat)
• Group C: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania (Fez)
• Group C: Tunisia 3-1 Uganda (Rabat)

Wednesday December 24, 2025

• Group E: Burkina Faso 2-1 Equatorial Guinea (Casablanca)
• Group E: Algeria 3-0 Sudan (Rabat)
• Group F: Ivory Coast 1-0 Mozambique (Marrakech)
• Group F: Cameroon 1-0 Gabon (Agadir)

Friday December 26, 2025

• Group B: Angola – Zimbabwe (Marrakech, 12:30 p.m.)
• Group B: Egypt – South Africa (Agadir, 3:00 p.m.)
• Group A: Zambia – Comoros (Casablanca, 5:30 p.m.)
• Group A: Morocco – Mali (Rabat, 8:00 p.m.)

Saturday December 27, 2025

• Group D: Benin – Botswana (Rabat, 12:30 p.m.)
• Group D: Senegal – DR Congo (Tangier, 3:00 p.m.)
• Group C: Uganda – Tanzania (Rabat 3, 5:30 p.m.)
• Group C: Nigeria – Tunisia (Fez, 8:00 p.m.)

Sunday December 28, 2025

• Group F: Gabon vs Mozambique (Agadir, 12:30)
• Group E: Equatorial Guinea – Sudan (Casablanca, 3:00 p.m.)
• Group E: Algeria – Burkina Faso (Rabat, 5:30 p.m.)
• Group F: Ivory Coast – Cameroon, (Marrakech, 8:00 p.m.)

Monday December 29, 2025

• Group B: Angola – Egypt (Agadir, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group B: Zimbabwe – South Africa (Marrakech, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group A: Comoros – Mali (Casablanca, 7:00 p.m.)
• Group A: Zambia – Morocco (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Tuesday December 30, 2025

• Group C: Tanzania – Tunisia (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group C: Uganda – Nigeria (Fez, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group D: Benin – Senegal (Tangier, 7:00 p.m.)
• Group D: Botswana – DR Congo (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Wednesday December 31, 2025

• Group E: Equatorial Guinea – Algeria (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group E: Sudan – Burkina Faso (Casablanca, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group F: Gabon – Ivory Coast (Marrakech, 7:00 p.m.)
• Group F: Mozambique vs Cameroon (Agadir, 7:00 p.m.)

2025 African Cup of Nations, round of 16

Saturday January 3, 2026

• SR1: winner of Group D vs third in Group B/E/F (Tangier, 4:00 p.m.)
• SR2: Group A finalists vs Group C finalists (Casablanca, 7:00 p.m.)

Sunday January 4

• SR3: Winner of Group A vs third in Group C/D/E (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
• SR4: Vice-champion of Group B vs Vice-champion of Group F (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Monday January 5

• SR5: winner of group B vs third of group A/C/D (Agadir, 6 p.m.)
• SR6: winners of Group C vs thirds of Groups A/B/F (Fez, 8:30 p.m.)

Tuesday January 6

• SR7: Winners of Group E vs finalists of Group D (Rabat 2, 6 p.m.)
• SR8: winners of Group F vs vice-champions of Group E (Marrakech, 8:30 p.m.)

Quarter-finals of the 2025 African Cup of Nations

Friday January 9

• QF1: Winner SR2 vs Winner SR1 (Tangier, 4:00 p.m.)
• QF2: Winner SR4 vs Winner SR3 (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Saturday January 10

• QF3: Winner SR7 vs Winner SR6 (Marrakech, 4:00 p.m.)
• QF4: Winner SR5 vs Winner SR8 (Agadir, 7:00 p.m.)

2025 African Cup of Nations semi-finals

Wednesday January 14

• SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4 (Tangier, 5:00 p.m.)
• SF2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF2 (Rabat, 8:00 p.m.)

2025 Africa Cup of Nations third place match

Saturday January 17

• SF1 vs SF2 losers (Casablanca, 4:00 p.m.)

2025 African Cup of Nations Final

Sunday January 18

• Winners SF1 vs SF2 (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)