On Wednesday, October 8, Tanzania will face Zambia in a World Cup qualification match. The game starts at 21:00 Central European Time, and here’s my take on it.
Tanzania vs Zambia: Match preview
Tanzania is currently in second place in their group but has no chance of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. They have ten points from seven matches, just one point ahead of the team in third. However, Tanzania has played one more game, making their chances slim. They sit at the bottom of the second-place rankings, trailing by five points. This match is their last chance for qualification, so even a win won’t change their situation.
Zambia finds itself in a similar position. With six points, they also have two games in hand. However, even if they win both, they would only reach a maximum of 12 points, which won’t be enough for qualification. In the second-place rankings, they would still fall short by at least three points. Thus, Zambia’s upcoming matches feel more like friendly games than World Cup qualifiers. They’ve managed six points so far, winning twice against Congo, including one technical victory of 3-0.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Both teams are out of the running for World Cup qualification.
- Zambia has lost five matches in a row.
- Tanzania hasn’t won in their last four matches with two draws and two losses.
- Tanzania beat Zambia 1-0 in their last encounter.
Probable line-ups
- Tanzania: Suleiman Ali, Hamad, Yov, Kapombe, Hamza, Husseini, Salum, Nado, Yahya, Mzize, Suleiman.
- Zambia: Nsabata, Chongo, Mfande, Banda, Sakala, Kangwa, Chaiva, Chisala, Daka, Sakala, Banda.
Prediction
Both teams are not performing at their best and have lost their qualification chances for the 2026 World Cup. With no stakes in this match, I predict under 2.5 total goals.