
Zambia will host Burundi on Friday, November 13, 2026, in a crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. The fixture marks the first meeting of a double-header between the two nations, with both teams looking to strengthen their qualification campaigns and collect valuable points.
Zambia enter the contest after securing a 2-0 home victory over Togo during the previous international window in September. Burundi, meanwhile, will be looking to recover from a disappointing 2-2 draw against Algeria after surrendering a two-goal advantage. With Zambia sitting second in Group I and Burundi at the bottom, Friday’s encounter carries significant importance for both sides.
Zambia vs Burundi: Match Preview
Zambia will aim to build on their recent victory against Togo and make the most of their home advantage. The Chipolopolo secured all three points with a controlled performance, taking the lead through Albert Kangwanda’s second-minute strike. Eliya Mandanji then sealed the 2-0 win with a goal deep into stoppage time.
The victory was particularly important because Zambia had opened their AFCON qualification campaign with a 3-1 defeat away to Algeria. Their success against Togo ended a 10-match winless run, which included eight defeats and two draws. The result has given the team renewed confidence ahead of their meeting with Burundi.
Burundi will arrive disappointed after failing to protect a two-goal lead against Algeria. The Swallows made an excellent start when Fares Chaib scored an own goal in the fifth minute, before Jean Girumugisha doubled their advantage seven minutes later.
However, Algeria responded through Mohamed Belloumi, who reduced the deficit in the 30th minute. Adil Boulbina then completed the comeback with an equaliser in the 63rd minute. Burundi had to settle for one point despite their promising opening.
The result left Burundi at the bottom of Group I with one point from two matches, while Zambia occupy second place with three points. Both teams will understand the importance of avoiding another setback as the qualification campaign continues.
Zambia vs Burundi Head-to-Head Record and Key Numbers
Zambia have enjoyed a slight advantage in their previous meetings with Burundi. The two national teams have faced each other five times, with Zambia recording two victories, Burundi winning once and the remaining two matches ending in draws.
- Zambia and Burundi have met five times in their history, with Zambia winning twice, Burundi winning once and two matches ending in draws.
- The teams have not faced each other since December 2013, when Zambia advanced on penalties after a goalless draw in the CECAFA Championship quarterfinals.
- Four of their five previous meetings have produced fewer than three goals.
- Four of Burundi’s last five matches have finished with under 2.5 goals, with at least one team failing to score in those games.
- Four of Zambia’s last five matches have seen one side keep a clean sheet.
- Burundi moved up two places to 140th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, while Zambia dropped one position to 91st.
- Zambia’s recent form: W-L-L-L-D.
- Burundi’s recent form: D-L-L-W-W.
The historical record and recent scoring patterns suggest that another closely contested encounter could be on the cards. Both teams have shown defensive vulnerabilities at different points, but their recent statistics also indicate that high-scoring matches may not be guaranteed.
Zambia vs Burundi Prediction: Who Will Win?
Zambia will enter Friday’s match with confidence following their important victory over Togo. Their opening defeat against Algeria had placed pressure on the team, but the response at home demonstrated their ability to recover and remain competitive in Group I.
Ending a 10-game winless streak could also provide a psychological boost. Playing at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium gives Zambia another opportunity to use home advantage and secure consecutive victories in the qualification campaign.
Burundi, on the other hand, will take encouragement from their strong start against Algeria. Scoring twice against the two-time African champions demonstrated their attacking potential. However, conceding twice after establishing a two-goal lead exposed defensive issues that Zambia could look to exploit.
The head-to-head record also points towards a potentially low-scoring contest, with four of the five previous meetings producing fewer than three goals. Burundi’s recent results further support the possibility of a tight match, while Zambia’s clean-sheet trend could make the difference.
Considering Zambia’s home advantage, their recent victory over Togo and Burundi’s difficulty in protecting leads, the hosts are backed to secure a narrow win without conceding.
Prediction: Zambia 1-0 Burundi
Zambia vs Burundi Betting Tips
Friday’s AFCON qualifier could be a closely fought encounter, with Zambia expected to have the advantage at home. The recent performances of both teams suggest that goals may be limited, making a low-scoring result a possibility.
- Tip 1 – Zambia to win: Zambia are backed to collect all three points, with home advantage and their recent victory over Togo supporting the prediction.
- Tip 2 – Both teams to score: No: Recent matches involving both sides have frequently seen at least one team fail to score.
- Tip 3 – Under 2.5 goals: Four of the five previous head-to-head meetings produced fewer than three goals, supporting the under 2.5 goals prediction.
Final Prediction: Zambia 1-0 Burundi
Disclaimer: These predictions and Betting Tips are based on the supplied team statistics, recent form and head-to-head record. They are opinions, not guaranteed outcomes. Please gamble responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose.
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