Zambia have played in eighteen editions of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Historically, Zambia was seen as one of the weaker sides in Southern Africa. Zambia's greatest achievement was winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012.^[1][2]

Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1957 to 1963	Not affiliated to CAF
1965	Did not enter
1968
1970	Did not qualify
1972
1974	Runners-up	2nd	5	3	0	2	9	7
1976	Did not qualify
1978	Group stage	5th	3	1	1	1	3	2
1980	Did not qualify
1982	Third place	3rd	5	3	0	2	7	3
1984	Did not qualify
1986	Group stage	7th	3	0	1	2	2	4
1988	Withdrew
1990	Third place	3rd	5	3	1	1	3	2
1992	Quarter-finals	7th	3	1	0	2	1	2
1994	Runners-up	2nd	5	3	1	1	7	2
1996	Third place	3rd	6	4	1	1	15	6
1998	Group stage	10th	3	1	1	1	4	6
2000		13th	3	0	2	1	3	5
2002		14th	3	0	1	2	1	3
2004	Did not qualify
2006	Group stage	11th	3	1	0	2	3	6
2008		9th	3	1	1	1	5	6
2010	Quarter-finals	6th	4	1	1	2	5	5
2012	Champions	1st	6	5	1	0	9	3
2013	Group stage	12th	3	0	3	0	2	2
2015		13th	3	0	2	1	2	3
2017	Did not qualify
2019
2021
2023	Group stage	20th	3	0	2	1	2	3
2025	To be determined
2027
Total	1 title	18/34	69	27	19	23	83	70