Zambia and Comoros played to a gruelling 0–0 draw at the Stade Mohamed V on Friday night, leaving Group A of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) wide open. The result marks the first goalless stalemate of the tournament, a match defined more by tactical discipline and defensive resilience than offensive flair.
The "Chipolopolo" of Zambia now sit on two points after back-to-back draws, while the "Coelacanths" of Comoros earned their first point of the campaign. Both nations remain in contention for the knockout stages, though their paths forward require positive results in their final group fixtures against Morocco and Mali, respectively.
Comoros thought they had secured a stunning lead in the 19th minute when Myziane Maolida tapped into an empty net following a fluid attacking move. However, the celebrations were cut short after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review. Match officials determined that Yacine Bourhane had committed a foul on Zambia’s Owen Tembo during the build-up, leading to the goal being disallowed.
Despite the setback, Comoros remained the more adventurous side for much of the first half. Faïz Selemani nearly broke the deadlock with a looping header that caught Zambian goalkeeper Willard Mwanza off his line, only for the ball to land on the roof of the net. Zambia’s best opportunity of the opening period came from midfielder Kings Kangwa, whose ambitious long-range strike whistled just over the crossbar.
The second half saw a drop in intensity as both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances. Zambia dominated possession but lacked the clinical edge required to penetrate a compact Comorian defence. Patson Daka, who had rescued a point for Zambia in their opener against Mali, was largely neutralised by the Comorian backline led by Yannick Pandor.
The draw leaves Zambia in second place in Group A, level on points with Mali, while Comoros sits in fourth but within striking distance of the leaders. Zambia must now face a formidable Morocco side in their final group game, a task Sichone described as a "massive challenge" for his squad.
