By Kalumiana Kalumiana
Ex-Chipolopolo defender and 2012 AFCON winner Davies Nkausu has described next week’s away friendly against World champions Argentina as a major football coup by FAZ but cautioned players not to treat it as a social outing but use it as an opportunity to open more doors to secure premium high-profile matches.
The defending FIFA World Cup champions will host Chipolopolo Zambia on March 31 in Buenos Aires as a warm-up for Argentina’s title defence in the USA this coming summer.
Chipolopolo will be the second African team they will host during this FIFA international match window after playing Mauritania on March 27.
Nkausu is no stranger to such glitzy encounters after playing against 2014 FIFA World Cup host Brazil in a friendly in October 2013 that Zambia lost 2-0 in Beijing, China.
In an interview with Revelation Sports, Nkausu said it was serious business playing a mega giant like Argentina and Chipolopolo must demonstrate they can rise to the occasion and play with the big boys despite their current poor run of results.
”You know, we’re not playing just a team or a nation. We’re playing Argentina, the team that’s at their peak right now. You know, it’s exciting for the recognition, for them to pick Zambia, to say, ‘Oh, we’re going to go play the former African champion Zambia.’ This is an opportunity for us to prove to the world that we can still play. So I’m praying and hoping the boys are ready for this friendly game,” Nkausu said.
”Yes, we played Brazil, and they beat us too. Brazil then came to play South Africa. South Africa were not ready by then and they got five. That’s an example I’m giving. So if we’re not ready, the way Argentina is playing right now, we’re going to get five or more.”
Nkausu said Chipolopolo must step up, especially that the friendly comes after the team’s poor showing at the 2025 AFCON.
”I hope the boys are ready because the way we played at the AFCON, that wasn’t the Zambia I know. Now you know we’re playing the world champion. We’re playing the Messi’s of this world in Argentina,” Nkausu said.
”You know, these are the games I wish I were still playing because you want to put your name up there, competing with the best, learning from the best. Most of the time the boys don’t understand what the meaning of the high magnitude of this game like Argentina, is. You use games like these to learn, try, compete, try to see where you’re lacking, tempo-wise. It will tell you how far behind you are from the world champions. So all those will count, and we’ll see how far we’re behind as an African team.”
The friendly will also mark George Lwandamina’s first game in charge since his appointment early this month.
But Nkausu cautioned that the entire world would be watching and Chipolopolo must ensure they hold their own like they are playing a cup final.
”Zambia, football-wise, we’ll see how far behind we are when we’re competing with the likes of Argentina. Which is going to be entertaining and which is going to be good. And at least if we compete and play the best football, the whole world is watching,” he said.
”Who’s next going to say we want to play Zambia again? Or do we want to play Zambia as well? It’s not just going to be Argentina. That’s what I mean when I say I hope the boys are ready and I hope they’re up to the task. I hope they’ll play to prove to the world that will be watching that, okay, Zambia can still play. You know, that’s my take on this, friendly.
“You know, it might come at the right and wrong time at the same time because we are not anywhere near our best when it comes to Zambia. I hope Coach George Lwandamina will shake up the boys and just keep them fit because when Zambia is fit, we play our best football. So good luck to them. We’ll be watching and it’s a great opportunity for the young stars or whoever that’s going to be representing us to showcase their talent.”
