The Zambia senior national football team has announced the final squad that will face Ivory Coast and Comoros in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in June.
Chipolopolo will start their 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifiers campaign when they face Ivory Coast on 7 June in Yamoussoukro, four days before playing Comoros at National Heroes Stadium.
Zambia are competing in Group G of the qualifiers alongside Namibia, Lesotho and Comoros.
Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Enock Mwepu and Leicester City’s Patson Daka are expected to lead the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations champions against the Ivory Coast side that has not lost their home games in the past few years.
Mwepu is expected to skipper the Chipolopolo as they hope to start the campaign on a winning note.
The other professional players expected to boost the team against Ivory Coast and Comoros include Fashion Sakala, Edward Chilufya and Emmanuel Banda.
However, Chipolopolo will wait for Inter-Miami CF defender Aime Mabika to have his nationality switch ratified by FIFA and other authorities.
Mabika was born at Chawama Clinic in Lusaka on August 16, 1998, of Congolese parents.
The 23-year-old earned his first outing with the national team back in March following a standout 2021 with Inter Miami CF II.
Full squad:
Goalkeepers:
Toaster Nsabata (Sekhukhune-RSA), Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows), Cyril Chibwe (Unattached)
Defenders:
Frankie Musonda (Raith Rovers-Scotland), Tandi Mwape (TP Mazembe-DRC), Miguel Chaiwa (Athletico), Dominic Chanda (Kabwe Warriors), Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows), Shemmy Mayembe (Zesco United)
Midfielders:
Roderick Kabwe (Sekhukhune-RSA), Enock Mwepu (Brighton-England), Emmanuel Banda (Djurgardens-Sweden), Kings Kangwa (Arsenal Tula-Russia), Rally Bwalya (Simba SC-Tanzania), Prince Mumba (Kabwe Warriors), Lubambo Musonda (AC Horsens-Denmark), Kelvin Kampamba, Spencer Sautu, (both Zesco United), Lameck Banda (Maccabi Petah Tikva-Israel), Edward Chilufya (Midtjylland-Denmark)
Strikers:
Fashion Sakala (Rangers-Scotland), Evans Kangwa (Arsenal Tula-Russia), Ricky Banda (Red Arrows), Gamphani Lungu (SuperSport United-RSA Patson Daka (Leicester City-England)
