Zambia national football team

Zambia
Nickname(s)	Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets)
Association	Football Association of Zambia
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	COSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coach	Milutin Sredojevic
Captain	Kennedy Mweene
Most caps	Kennedy Mweene (121)
Top scorer	Godfrey Chitalu (79)
Home stadium	National heros stadium
FIFA code	ZAM
FIFA ranking
Current	94 1 (24 October 2024)
Highest	15 (February – May 1996, August 1996)
Lowest	102 (February 2011)
First international
	Southern Rhodesia 0–4 Northern Rhodesia ; (Southern Rhodesia; 1946)
Biggest win
	Zambia 11–2 Swaziland ; (Lusaka, Zambia; 5 February 1978) ; Zambia 9–0 Kenya ; (Lilongwe, Malawi; 13 November 1978) ; Zambia 9–0 Lesotho ; (8 August 1988)
Biggest defeat
	DR Congo 10–1 Zambia ; (DR Congo; 22 November 1969) ; Belgium 9–0 Zambia ; (Brussels, Belgium; 3 June 1994)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	17 (first in 1974)
Best result	Champions, 2012

The Zambia national football team represents Zambia in men's international association football and it is governed by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ). During the 1980s, they were known as the KK 11, after founding president Dr. Kenneth Kaunda ("KK") who ruled Zambia from 1964 to 1991. After the country adopted multiparty politics, the side was nicknamed Chipolopolo, the "Copper Bullets".,^[3] The team has three Africa Cup of Nations final appearances to its credit, winning the 2012 tournament with victory over Ivory Coast in 2012 Africa Cup of Nations final, The team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals, The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).

After the departure of George Lwandamina in 2016, Wedson Nyirenda was appointed interim coach. In January 2017 Nyirenda was appointed on a permanent basis. On 6 July 2018, FAZ announced the appointment of Sven Vandenbroeck as their new coach. The 38-year-old Belgian replaced Nyirenda who resigned two months earlier to join South African side Baroka FC.

Gabon air disaster

On 27 April 1993, a Zambian Air Force Buffalo DHC-5D which was carrying the team to Senegal for a 1994 World Cup qualification match crashed, killing all 30 passengers, including 18 players and a number of coaches.^[4]

Honours

Africa Cup of Nations

Champions: 2012

Runners-up: 1974, 1994

COSAFA Cup

Champions: 1997, 1998, 2006, 2013, 2019

Runners-up: 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2017, 2018

CECAFA Cup

Champions: 1984, 1991

Runners-up: 1976, 1977, 1978, 1988, 2006

Competitive record

World Cup record

When the former British colony of Northern Rhodesia, Zambia did not participate in World Cup qualification play until after its independence in 1964. The country's football association was formed in 1929 and joined FIFA in 1964.

FIFA World Cup record									FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1966	Did not enter								Did not enter
1970	Did not qualify								2	1	0	1	6	6
1974									10	4	3	3	19	11
1978									6	3	1	2	9	5
1982									4	2	1	1	6	2
1986									6	2	1	3	8	6
1990									6	3	0	3	7	6
1994									8	5	1	2	17	5
1998									8	3	2	3	10	8
2002									10	5	2	3	16	11
2006									13	7	4	2	21	11
2010									10	3	3	4	4	6
2014									6	3	2	1	11	4
2018									8	4	2	2	11	7
2022	To be determined								To be determined
2026	To be determined								To be determined
Total	–	0/21	–	–	–	–	–	–	97	45	22	30	145	88

Africa Cup of Nations record

Africa Cup of Nations record
Host nation(s) / Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1957 to 1963	Not affiliated to CAF
1965	Did not enter
1968	Did not enter
1970	Did not qualify
1972	Did not qualify
1974	Runners-up	2nd	5	3	0	2	9	7
1976	Did not qualify
1978	Group stage	5th	3	1	1	1	3	2
1980	Did not qualify
1982	Third place	3rd	5	3	0	2	7	3
1984	Did not qualify
1986	Group stage	7th	3	0	1	2	2	4
1988	Withdrew
1990	Third place	3rd	5	3	1	1	3	2
1992	Quarter-finals	7th	3	1	0	2	1	2
1994	Runners-up	2nd	5	3	1	1	7	2
1996	Third place	3rd	6	4	1	1	15	6
1998	Group stage	10th	3	1	1	1	4	6
2000		13th	3	0	2	1	3	5
2002		14th	3	0	1	2	1	3
2004	Did not qualify
2006	Group stage	11th	3	1	0	2	3	6
2008	Group stage	9th	3	1	1	1	5	6
2010	Quarter-finals	7th	4	1	1	2	5	5
2012	Champions	1st	6	5	1	0	9	3
2013	Group stage	12th	3	0	3	0	2	2
2015	Group stage	13th	3	0	2	1	2	3
2017	Did not qualify
2019	Did not qualify
2021	To be determined
2023	To be determined
2025	To be determined
Total	1 Title	17/32	66	27	18	22	81	67

African Games

Football at the African Games has been an under-23 tournament since 1991.

African Games record
Year	Result	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
1965	-	0	0	0	0	0	0
1973	-	0	0	0	0	0	0
1978	-	0	0	0	0	0	0
1987	-	0	0	0	0	0	0
1991–present	See Zambia national under-23 football team
Total	4/4	0	0	0	0	0	0

Gossage Cup / CECAFA Cup

CECAFA Cup Record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D *	L	GF	GA
1973	Group Stage	5th	2	0	0	2	0	6
1974	Third Place	3rd	2	1	0	1	3	3
1975	Group Stage	6th	2	0	0	2	1	7
1976	Group Stage	6th	3	1	0	2	1	4
1977	Group Stage	6th	3	1	0	2	1	4
1978	Did not enter
1979	Fourth Place	4th	4	0	2	2	3	8
1980	Group Stage	5th	3	1	0	2	2	5
1981	Group Stage	8th	3	0	0	3	3	9
1982	Fourth Place	4th	4	1	1	2	3	8
1983	Group Stage	8th	3	0	1	2	3	6
1984	Group Stage	8th	3	0	0	3	1	4
1985	Did not enter
1987	Fourth Place	4th	5	1	2	2	2	3
1988	Group Stage	7th	3	1	0	2	1	3
1989	Group Stage	6th	3	0	2	1	0	1
1990	Fourth Place	4th	5	1	1	3	3	5
1991	Group Stage	7th	3	0	0	3	4	7
1992	Group Stage	8th	4	1	0	3	2	14
1994	Did not enter
1995	Champions	1st	5	3	1	1	5	4
1996	Group Stage	5th	3	1	1	1	3	3
1999	Group Stage	10th	2	0	1	1	1	3
2000	Did not enter
2001	Group Stage	10th	2	0	0	2	0	8
2002	Group Stage	7th	4	1	1	2	1	3
2003	Group Stage	5th	2	0	1	1	2	6
2004	Group Stage	7th	4	1	0	3	7	11
2005	Third Place	3rd	6	3	2	1	7	6
2006	Group Stage	9th	2	0	1	1	0	4
2007	Quarter-Finals	7th	3	1	2	0	5	3
2008	Group Stage	8th	4	1	1	2	3	5
2009	Third Place	3rd	6	2	2	2	6	3
2010	Quarter-Finals	7th	4	1	2	1	4	3
2011	Quarter-Finals	7th	4	1	1	2	5	4
2012	Third Place	3rd	6	1	4	1	5	6
2013	Group Stage	9th	3	1	0	2	3	6
2015	Group Stage	10th	3	1	0	2	3	6
2017	Runners-Up	2nd	6	3	2	1	9	6
Total	34/38	1 Title	121	29	31	61	99	181

COSAFA Cup

COSAFA Cup Record
Year	Rank	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1997	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
1998	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
1999	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2000	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2001	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2002	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2003	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2004	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2005	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2006	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2007	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2008	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2009	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2013	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2015	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2016	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2017	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2018	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2019	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	0/19	-	-	-	-	-	-

Recent schedule and results

The following is a list of match results from the previous 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Win Draw Loss

2019

9 June 2019 Friendly	Cameroon	2–1	Zambia	Majadahonda, Spain
18:30 WAT (UTC+1)	Ntep 2' Joel Tagueu 71'	Report	Musonda 77'	Stadium: Estadio Cerro del Espino

16 June 2019 Friendly	Morocco	2–3	Zambia	Marrakech, Morocco
17:30 WAT (UTC+1)	Ziyech 24', 55' (pen.)	Report	Musonda 1' Kangwa 44' Mwepu 74'	Stadium: Stade de Marrakech Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Adalbert Diouf (Senegal)

19 June 2019 Friendly	Ivory Coast	4–1	Zambia	Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
16:30 GST (UTC+4)	Kodjia 29' Seri 41' Cornet 57' Bony 84'	Report	Sakala 13' (pen.)	Stadium: Zayed Sports City Stadium Attendance: 50 Referee: Ammar Ali Abdulla Jumaa Al Junaibi (United Arab Emirates)

13 October 2019 Friendly	Benin	2–2	Zambia	Porto-Novo, Benin
18:00	Mounié 39' Poté 90'	Report	Shonga 20', 79'	Stadium: Stade Charles de Gaulle Referee: Aklesso Gnama (Togo)

9 November 2019 Friendly	Namibia	0–2	Zambia	Katutura, Namibia
				Stadium: Sam Nujoma Stadium

14 November 2019 2021 AFCONQ	Algeria	5–0	Zambia	Blida, Algeria
20:00	Bensebaini 44' Bounedjah 68' (pen.), 90' Belaïli 75' Soudani 86'			Stadium: Mustapha Tchaker Stadium Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)

19 November 2019 2021 AFCONQ	Zambia	1–2	Zimbabwe	Lusaka, Zambia
18:00 UTC+2	Daka 20'		Billiat 11', 79'	Stadium: National Heroes Stadium

Players

Current squad

The following players were selected for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier matches against Algeria and Zimbabwe on 14 & 18 November 2019.^[5]

Caps and goals as of 19 November 2019, after the match against Zimbabwe.^[6]

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK	Toaster Nsabata	(1993-11-24) 24 November 1993 (age 30)	25	0	Zanaco
1GK	Sebastian Mwange	(1991-12-18) 18 December 1991 (age 32)	6	0	Green Eagles
1GK	Cyril Chibwe	(1993-06-17) 17 June 1993 (age 31)	1	0	Polokwane City

2DF	Stoppila Sunzu	(1989-06-22) 22 June 1989 (age 35)	78	5	Shijiazhuang Ever Bright F.C.
2DF	Kabaso Chongo	(1992-02-11) 11 February 1992 (age 32)	36	1	TP Mazembe
2DF	Isaac Shamujompa	(1994-10-12) 12 October 1994 (age 30)	16	0	Buildcon
2DF	Lawrence Chungu	(1991-10-11) 11 October 1991 (age 33)	14	0	Zanaco
2DF	Clement Mwape	(1989-02-28) 28 February 1989 (age 35)	6	0	ZESCO United
2DF	Tandi Mwape	(1996-07-20) 20 July 1996 (age 28)	4	0	TP Mazembe

3MF	Nathan Sinkala	(1990-11-22) 22 November 1990 (age 33)	55	3	Stellenbosch
3MF	Donashano Malama	(1991-09-01) 1 September 1991 (age 33)	37	1	Black Leopards
3MF	Salulani Phiri	(1994-04-10) 10 April 1994 (age 30)	28	0	Polokwane City
3MF	Augustine Mulenga	(1990-01-17) 17 January 1990 (age 34)	26	5	Orlando Pirates
3MF	Clatous Chama	(1991-06-18) 18 June 1991 (age 33)	22	4	Simba
3MF	Bruce Musakanya	(1994-02-23) 23 February 1994 (age 30)	21	4	Red Arrows
3MF	Enock Mwepu	(1998-01-01) 1 January 1998 (age 26)	14	2	Red Bull Salzburg
3MF	Kelvin Kampamba	(1996-11-24) 24 November 1996 (age 27)	9	1	Nkana
3MF	Larry Bwayla	(1995-05-29) 29 May 1995 (age 29)	4	0	Power Dynamos

4FW	Justin Shonga	(1996-11-05) 5 November 1996 (age 27)	25	13	Orlando Pirates
4FW	Evans Kangwa	(1994-06-21) 21 June 1994 (age 30)	24	4	Arsenal Tula
4FW	Patson Daka	(1998-10-09) 9 October 1998 (age 26)	23	3	Red Bull Salzburg
4FW	Lazarous Kambole	(1994-01-20) 20 January 1994 (age 30)	16	7	Kaizer Chiefs
4FW	Fashion Sakala	(1997-03-14) 14 March 1997 (age 27)	9	1	KV Oostende
4FW	Mwape Musonda	(1990-11-08) 8 November 1990 (age 33)	5	2	Black Leopards
4FW	Tyler Donoghue	(2001-11-08) 8 November 2001 (age 22)	0	0	Scissett

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for Zambia in the last 12 months.^[7]

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Lawrence Mulenga	(1998-08-21) 21 August 1998 (age 26)	2	0	Power Dynamos	v. Benin, 13 October 2019
GK	Nkole Ngandu		0	0	National Assembly	v. South Africa, 7 September 2019
GK	Allan Chibwe	(1991-03-22) 22 March 1991 (age 33)	9	0	Power Dynamos	v. Morocco, 16 June 2019
GK	Charles Muntanga	(1995-07-21) 21 July 1995 (age 29)	1	0	Nkwazi	v. Morocco, 16 June 2019

DF	Adrian Chama	(1989-03-18) 18 March 1989 (age 35)	33	0	Green Buffaloes	v. Benin, 13 October 2019
DF	Simon Silwimba	(1991-12-25) 25 December 1991 (age 32)	19	1	ZESCO United	v. Benin, 13 October 2019
DF	Mwila Phiri	(1994-08-29) 29 August 1994 (age 30)	11	1	ZESCO United	v. Benin, 13 October 2019
DF	Luka Banda	(1995-04-06) 6 April 1995 (age 29)	1	0	NAPSA Stars	v. Benin, 13 October 2019
DF	Ziyo Tembo	(1985-06-30) 30 June 1985 (age 39)	24	0	Zanaco	v. Morocco, 16 June 2019
DF	Shemmy Mayembe	(1997-11-22) 22 November 1997 (age 26)	6	0	ZESCO United	v. Morocco, 16 June 2019
DF	Kebson Kamanga		3	0	Nkwazi	v. Morocco, 16 June 2019
DF	Moses Nyondo	(1997-07-05) 5 July 1997 (age 27)	2	0	Nkana	v. Morocco, 16 June 2019
DF	Paul Banda		1	0	Power Dynamos	v. Morocco, 16 June 2019

MF	Paul Katema	(1997-09-19) 19 September 1997 (age 27)	18	1	Red Arrows	v. Benin, 13 October 2019
MF	Kelvin Kapumbu		1	0	Zanaco	v. Benin, 13 October 2019
MF	Amity Shamende		0	0	Green Eagles	v. Benin, 13 October 2019
MF	Ernest Mbewe	(1994-11-11) 11 November 1994 (age 29)	20	0	Zanaco	v. South Africa, 7 September 2019
MF	Benson Sakala	(1996-09-12) 12 September 1996 (age 28)	14	0	Power Dynamos	v. South Africa, 7 September 2019
MF	Webster Muzaza	(1997-08-21) 21 August 1997 (age 27)	2	0	Forest Rangers	v. South Africa, 7 September 2019
MF	Emmanuel Banda	(1997-09-29) 29 September 1997 (age 27)	7	0	AS Béziers	v. Morocco, 16 June 2019
MF	Kings Kangwa	(1999-06-04) 4 June 1999 (age 25)	3	1	Arsenal Tula	v. Morocco, 16 June 2019
MF	Gamphani Lungu	(1998-09-19) 19 September 1998 (age 26)	3	0	SuperSport United	v. Morocco, 16 June 2019

FW	Emmanuel Chabula	(1998-01-10) 10 January 1998 (age 26)	6	2	Nkwazi	v. Benin, 13 October 2019
FW	Tapson Kaseba	(1992-12-08) 8 December 1992 (age 31)	5	1	Green Eagles	v. South Africa, 7 September 2019
FW	Twiza Chaibela		1	0	Kabwe Warriors	v. Botswana, 3 August 2019

Notes

^DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up.
^INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
^PRE Preliminary Squad.
^RET Player has retired from international football.
^SUS Suspended from the national team.

Records

Most capped players

As of 25 November 2018^[8]

Players in bold are still active, at least at club level.

#	Name	International Career	Caps	Goals
1	Kennedy Mweene	2004–	124	2
2	David Chabala	1983–1993	115	0
3	Godfrey Chitalu	1968–1980	111	79
4	Joseph Musonda	2002–2014	108	0
5	Christopher Katongo	2003–2016	105	23
6	Rainford Kalaba	2005–	104	15
7	Alex Chola	1975–1985	102	43
8	Elijah Tana	1995–2009	101	4
9	Derby Makinka	1985–1993	98	10
10	Kalusha Bwalya	1983–2004	87	39

Top goalscorers

As of 25 November 2018

Players in bold are still active, at least at club level.

#	Name	International Career	Goals	Caps
1.	Godfrey Chitalu	1968–1980	79	111
2.	Alex Chola	1975–1985	43	102
3.	Kalusha Bwalya	1983–2004	39	87
4.	Bernard Chanda	1971–1980	29	68
5.	Christopher Katongo	2003–2016	23	105
6.	Collins Mbesuma	2003–	22	65
7.	Dennis Lota	1994–2002	21	78
8.	Kenneth Malitoli	1988–1999	19	80
9.	James Chamanga	2005–2015	17	63
10.	Rainford Kalaba	2005–	15	104

Managers

John Green
Ante Bušelić (1971–76)
Ted Virba (1977)
Brian Tiler (1978–80)
Ted Dumitru (1980–81)
Ante Bušelić (1981–82)
Bill McGarry (1982–83)
Wieslaw Grabowski (1983–84)
Jeff Butler (1984)
Roy Mulenga (1984)

Brightwell Banda (1984–86)
Samuel Ndhlovu (1987–92)
Moses Simwala (1993)
Godfrey Chitalu (1993)
Roald Poulsen (1993–94)
Ian Porterfield (1994)
Roald Poulsen (1994–96)
Freddie Mwila (1996–97)
George Mungwa (1997, caretaker)
Burkhard Ziese (1997–98)

George Mungwa (1998, caretaker)
Obby Kapita (1998, caretaker)
Fighton Simukonda (1998)
Ben Bamfuchile (1999–00)
George Mungwa (2000, caretaker)
Jan Brouwer (2001)
Roald Poulsen (2002)
Patrick Phiri (2002–03)
Kalusha Bwalya (2003–06)
Patrick Phiri (2006–08)

Hervé Renard (2008–10)
Dario Bonetti (2010–11)
Hervé Renard (2011–2013)
Patrice Beaumelle (2013–2014)
Honour Janza (2014–2015)
George Lwandamina (2015–2016)
Wedson Nyirenda (2016–2018)
Beston Chambeshi (2018)
Sven Vandenbroeck (2018–2019)
Aggrey Chiyangi (2019–2020)
Milutin Sredojevic (2020-)

References

^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
^ "History of Zambian National Team". fazfootball.com. Football Association of Zambia. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
^ "Zambia's remarkable journey makes them winners regardless". FourFourTwo. 12 February 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
^ "EVANS KANGWA RECALLED, KALABA AND MWEENE SNUBBED AS CHIYANGI NAMES SQUAD FOR BACK TO BACK AFCON QUALIFIERS". Zambianfootball. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Zambia (2019)". National-football-teams.com. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
^ "ZAMBIA PICKS 9 FOREIGN BASED PLAYERS". Retrieved 30 August 2019.
^ Jerry Muchimba and Roberto Mamrud. "Zambia – Record International Players". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 1 January 2016.

External links

Zambia at FIFA.com
Zambian Football Association official website
ZambianFootball.net

[FIFA_World_Rankings-1] "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.

[World_Football_Elo_Ratings-2] Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.

[FAZ_history-3] "History of Zambian National Team". fazfootball.com. Football Association of Zambia. Retrieved 29 October 2016.

[4] "Zambia's remarkable journey makes them winners regardless". FourFourTwo. 12 February 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2013.

[5] "EVANS KANGWA RECALLED, KALABA AND MWEENE SNUBBED AS CHIYANGI NAMES SQUAD FOR BACK TO BACK AFCON QUALIFIERS". Zambianfootball. Retrieved 31 October 2019.

[6] Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Zambia (2019)". National-football-teams.com. Retrieved 23 January 2018.

[7] "ZAMBIA PICKS 9 FOREIGN BASED PLAYERS". Retrieved 30 August 2019.

[8] Jerry Muchimba and Roberto Mamrud. "Zambia – Record International Players". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 1 January 2016.

[1]

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v t e Zambia national football team
General	Honours Head coaches
Venues	Levy Mwanawasa Stadium National Heroes Stadium
Matches and results	Results and Fixtures 1974 AFCON final 1994 AFCON final 2012 AFCON final
Competitive records	AFCON records
Players	International players
Goals	Godfrey Chitalu
Africa Cup of Nations Finals	1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2006 2008 2010 2012 2013 2015 2023
Other	1993 Zambia national football team plane crash
Other FAZ teams	Men Under-23 Under-21 Under-20 Under-19 Under-17 Women Under-19

v t e National football teams of Africa (CAF)
North Africa (UNAF)	Algeria Egypt Libya Morocco Tunisia
West Africa (WAFU)	Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo
East Africa (CECAFA)	Burundi Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Rwanda Somalia South Sudan Sudan Tanzania Uganda Zanzibar¹
Central Africa (UNIFFAC)	Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Congo DR Congo Equatorial Guinea Gabon São Tomé and Príncipe
Southern Africa (COSAFA)	Angola Botswana Comoros Eswatini Lesotho Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Seychelles South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe
Non-regional Members	Réunion¹
¹ Regional team, an associate member of CAF but not a member of FIFA Football in Africa portal