Avram Grant has stepped down as coach of the Zambia national soccer team, just eight weeks before the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. His departure follows a disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign in which Zambia failed to secure a spot in the 2026 tournament. In a statement posted on Instagram, Grant said he was proud to leave the team in a better position than when he took over.
Grant’s tenure, however, was marked by a string of poor results, including three consecutive home defeats in World Cup qualifiers against Comoros, Morocco and Niger, during which Zambia failed to score. Under his guidance, Zambia qualified for back‑to‑back Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, but the team did not advance beyond the group stage in the last edition held in Ivory Coast.
Zambia will face Morocco and Comoros again in its AFCON group, with the tournament set to kick off on December 21. The Zambia Football Federation has not yet announced a replacement for Grant, who coached the side for nearly three years. Grant’s experience in African football is notable; he has previously managed the national teams of Ghana and Israel, as well as English Premier League club Chelsea.
Zambia’s football history includes a 2012 African championship title, though the nation has never qualified for a men’s World Cup. Fans will be hoping for a turnaround under new leadership, and the federation’s next move will be closely watched as the team seeks to regain its footing on the continental stage.
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