Zambia set to face world champions Argentina in Buenos Aires in a pre-World Cup friendly

Zambia will take on Argentina in a high-profile friendly on March 31 at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires.

The match, part of the March FIFA international matchdays, marks the first meeting between the two nations and provides a rare chance for the Chipolopolo to test themselves against the reigning world champions.

Coach Moses Sichone will use the fixture to evaluate his squad ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Zambia will begin a domestic training camp next week before departing for Argentina, focusing on preparation and tactical adjustments.

The invitation from Argentina required Zambia to adjust its plans, as the team had previously committed to participating in the Four Nations Tournament in Botswana.

To accommodate both commitments, the federation decided to send its local squad to the Botswana tournament while reserving the senior national team for the historic clash in Buenos Aires.

“ We received an invitation to play Argentina, and it’s an opportunity we simply cannot pass up. When the world champions come calling, you answer.

It’s a clear sign of the respect Zambia has continued to earn on the world stage. However, as this match falls at the same time as the Four Nations Tournament, we decided to send our local team to Francistown,” a federation spokesperson explained.

The federation emphasized that the Four Nations Tournament remains a valuable platform for Olympic team preparations.

“Since we have already confirmed to FIFA our participation in the Olympic Games, the Four Nations Tournament is a good platform for us to begin preparations for our Olympic team, which will be composed of both local and international players. The selection process for both teams should be further refined,” the spokesperson added.

Following the friendly against Argentina, Zambia will focus on upcoming continental competitions, including the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, with the coaching staff using the March matches to fine-tune their squad and assess player performance against both local and elite international opposition.