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South Africa vs Zambia head-to-head record

South Africa wins
7
Draws
7
Zambia wins
8

22 meetings, 1992 to 2025Goals: South Africa 21, Zambia 21

South Africa and Zambia have met 22 times since 1992. Zambia have won 8, South Africa 7, and 7 matches ended level. They last met on 15 November 2025, when South Africa won 3–1 in a friendly.

The 22 meetings have produced 42 goals, 1.91 per game. The biggest win is South Africa’s 3–0 in World Cup qualifying in 1997.

Who has won more, South Africa or Zambia?

All matches22 matches

7 South Africa7 drawsZambia 8

Competitive15 matches

4 South Africa6 drawsZambia 5

Friendlies7 matches

3 South Africa1 drawZambia 3

Key numbers

Goals
South Africa 21, Zambia 211.91 per game
First meeting
South Africa 0–1 ZambiaAfrica Cup of Nations qualifying, 30 Aug 1992
Most recent
South Africa 3–1 ZambiaFriendly, 15 Nov 2025
South Africa’s biggest win
South Africa 3–0 ZambiaWorld Cup qualifying, 8 Jun 1997
Zambia’s biggest win
Zambia 3–0 South AfricaAfrica Cup of Nations qualifying, 11 Jul 1993
Most goals in a meeting
South Africa 3–1 ZambiaFriendly, 15 Nov 2025
Biggest upset
South Africa 1–2 ZambiaFriendly, 13 Jun 2017Winner’s rating-based win expectancy: 17%
TFN Elo rating now
South Africa 1717 (59th), Zambia 1558 (92nd)How the rating works

Last five meetings

  1. South Africa3Zambia1

    Friendly

    Gqeberha, South Africa

  2. South Africa1Zambia2

    COSAFA Cup

    Durban, South Africa

  3. South Africa0Zambia0

    COSAFA Cup

    Port Elizabeth, South Africa

  4. South Africa1Zambia2

    Friendly

    Rustenburg, South Africa

  5. Zambia0South Africa2

    Four Nations Tournament

    Ndola, Zambia

Who has had the upper hand over time?

The line climbs with every South Africa win and drops with every Zambia win, so its height shows who has won more meetings up to that point.

Above the line: South Africa have won more Below: Zambia have won more
30 August 1992: South Africa 0–1 Zambia (Africa Cup of Nations qualifying). Zambia +111 July 1993: Zambia 3–0 South Africa (Africa Cup of Nations qualifying). Zambia +222 November 1995: South Africa 2–2 Zambia (Simba Tournament). Zambia +211 January 1997: Zambia 0–0 South Africa (World Cup qualifying). Zambia +28 June 1997: South Africa 3–0 Zambia (World Cup qualifying). Zambia +120 May 1998: South Africa 1–1 Zambia (Friendly). Zambia +113 August 2005: South Africa 2–2 Zambia (COSAFA Cup). Zambia +130 January 2006: Zambia 1–0 South Africa (Africa Cup of Nations). Zambia +28 October 2006: Zambia 0–1 South Africa (Africa Cup of Nations qualifying). Zambia +19 September 2007: South Africa 1–3 Zambia (Africa Cup of Nations qualifying). Zambia +224 October 2007: South Africa 0–0 Zambia (COSAFA Cup). Zambia +230 July 2008: South Africa 1–0 Zambia (COSAFA Cup). Zambia +127 January 2009: South Africa 1–0 Zambia (Friendly). Level14 November 2012: South Africa 0–1 Zambia (Friendly). Zambia +117 July 2013: Zambia 0–0 South Africa (COSAFA Cup). Zambia +14 January 2015: South Africa 1–0 Zambia (Friendly). Level13 June 2017: South Africa 1–2 Zambia (Friendly). Zambia +124 March 2018: Zambia 0–2 South Africa (Four Nations Tournament). Level11 October 2020: South Africa 1–2 Zambia (Friendly). Zambia +114 July 2021: South Africa 0–0 Zambia (COSAFA Cup). Zambia +114 July 2023: South Africa 1–2 Zambia (COSAFA Cup). Zambia +215 November 2025: South Africa 3–1 Zambia (Friendly). Zambia +1Level
Zambia lead by 1 win after the latest meeting. The biggest lead was 2, held by Zambia from 11 July 1993.

Every meeting on one timeline

Larger dots mark bigger winning margins. Hover a dot for the result.

Home, away and neutral

In South Africa's home games

16 matches

556

South AfricaDrawsZambia

In Zambia's home games

5 matches

221

South AfricaDrawsZambia

At neutral venues

1 match

001

South AfricaDrawsZambia

Record by competition

Record by competition
CompetitionPlayedSouth AfricaDrawsZambiaGoals
Friendly73138–7
COSAFA Cup61414–4
Africa Cup of Nations qualifying41032–7
World Cup qualifying21103–0
Africa Cup of Nations10010–1
Four Nations Tournament11002–0
Simba Tournament10102–2

Meetings by decade

South Africa wins Draws Zambia wins
Meetings by decade
DecadeResultsPlayedGoals
1990s613
2000s712
2010s57
2020s410

Longest runs

Longest runs
Longest run ofSouth AfricaZambia
Wins in a row22008 to 200921992 to 1993
Unbeaten meetings51995 to 200541992 to 1997

The longest run of draws is 2, from 20 May 1998 to 13 August 2005.

Penalty shootouts

  • South Africa 2–2 ZambiaCOSAFA Cup, 13 Aug 2005Zambia won on penalties
  • South Africa 0–0 ZambiaCOSAFA Cup, 24 Oct 2007South Africa won on penalties
  • Zambia 0–0 South AfricaCOSAFA Cup, 17 Jul 2013Zambia won on penalties

Questions answered

How many times have South Africa and Zambia played each other?

22 times, starting on 30 August 1992. 15 of those meetings were competitive and 7 were friendlies.

Who has won more matches between South Africa and Zambia?

Zambia, with 8 wins to 7. 7 matches ended level.

What is the biggest win in South Africa vs Zambia?

South Africa’s 3–0 win in World Cup qualifying on 8 June 1997 in Johannesburg.

When did South Africa and Zambia last play?

On 15 November 2025 in Gqeberha, when South Africa won 3–1 in a friendly.

What is the competitive record between South Africa and Zambia?

In 15 competitive matches, South Africa have 4 wins, Zambia have 5, and 6 ended level.

Have South Africa and Zambia met in a penalty shootout?

Yes, 3 times. Most recently in the COSAFA Cup on 17 July 2013, when Zambia won the shootout after a 0–0 draw.

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Every South Africa vs Zambia result

Show
Every South Africa vs Zambia result
DateHomeScoreAwayCompetitionVenue
South Africa3–1ZambiaFriendlyGqeberha, South Africa
South Africa1–2ZambiaCOSAFA CupDurban, South Africa
South Africa0–0ZambiaCOSAFA CupPort Elizabeth, South Africa
South Africa1–2ZambiaFriendlyRustenburg, South Africa
Zambia0–2South AfricaFour Nations TournamentNdola, Zambia
South Africa1–2ZambiaFriendlySaulspoort, South Africa
South Africa1–0ZambiaFriendlyJohannesburg, South Africa
Zambia0–0Zambia on pensSouth AfricaCOSAFA CupNdola, Zambia
South Africa0–1ZambiaFriendlyJohannesburg, South Africa
South Africa1–0ZambiaFriendlyAtteridgeville, South Africa
South Africa1–0ZambiaCOSAFA CupBushbuckridge, South Africa
South Africa0–0South Africa on pensZambiaCOSAFA CupBloemfontein, South Africa
South Africa1–3ZambiaAfrica Cup of Nations qualifyingCape Town, South Africa
Zambia0–1South AfricaAfrica Cup of Nations qualifyingLusaka, Zambia
Zambia1–0South AfricaAfrica Cup of NationsAlexandria, Egypt (neutral)
South Africa2–2Zambia on pensZambiaCOSAFA CupMafikeng, South Africa
South Africa1–1ZambiaFriendlyJohannesburg, South Africa
South Africa3–0ZambiaWorld Cup qualifyingJohannesburg, South Africa
Zambia0–0South AfricaWorld Cup qualifyingLusaka, Zambia
South Africa2–2ZambiaSimba TournamentPretoria, South Africa
Zambia3–0South AfricaAfrica Cup of Nations qualifyingLusaka, Zambia
South Africa0–1ZambiaAfrica Cup of Nations qualifyingJohannesburg, South Africa

Recent form

South Africa

  1. Wat EgyptFriendly1–0Sun 4 Oct 2026
  2. Wv EritreaAfrica Cup of Nations qualifying5–0Wed 30 Sept 2026
  3. Wv GuineaAfrica Cup of Nations qualifying2–1Sat 26 Sept 2026
  4. Lv CanadaWorld Cup0–1Sun 28 Jun 2026
  5. Wv South KoreaWorld Cup1–0Wed 24 Jun 2026

Zambia

  1. Wv TogoAfrica Cup of Nations qualifying2–0Tue 29 Sept 2026
  2. Lat AlgeriaAfrica Cup of Nations qualifying1–3Fri 25 Sept 2026
  3. Lat ArgentinaFriendly0–5Tue 31 Mar 2026
  4. Lat MoroccoAfrica Cup of Nations0–3Mon 29 Dec 2025
  5. Dv ComorosAfrica Cup of Nations0–0Fri 26 Dec 2025

Results through 6 October 2026. Page updated 3 November 2026. How these numbers are calculated.