The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has arranged international friendlies against Ethiopia and South Sudan to keep Chipolopolo in shape.
The Copper Bullets will play the Waliya Antelopes on 22 October and then take on Bright Stars two days later before facing Ethiopia again on Sunday.
The Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic’s coached side will wrap up the Addis Ababa engagement with another match against South Sudan on Monday 26 October.
“We are looking forward to augmenting our squad for future tournaments,” a source at FAZ office told Ducor Sports.
“Coach Micho wants to use the matches in Ethiopia to observe some players while keeping the squad in shape for our future assignments.
“Ethiopia and South Sudan are some of the best national teams in East Africa and playing against them will give us another strong test we need ahead of the back-to-back qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations against Botswana and the African Nations Championship slated for January 2021 in Cameroon.”
The Chipolopolo are expected to enter camp on Tuesday 20 October and will jet off to Ethiopia the following day in readiness for the match against the country’s national team on Thursday.
Ahead of the games, sources at FAZ have indicated that players would have to provide medical certificates showing that they had undergone Covid-19 testing.
Players would not be sharing a room or water bottles for the duration of their camp in Lusaka and Addis Ababa.
Zambia coach Micho currently has a good record against East African opposition since he took charge of the national side, but his biggest test will come when Chipolopolo faces Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.
Zambia plays Botswana in November in back-to-back Group H Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and will be part of the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cameroon in January 2021.
Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Lameck Siame (Kabwe Warriors), Jackson Kakunta (Power Dynamos), Charles Muntanga (Nkwazi)
Defenders: Kondwani Chiboni, Zachariah Chilongoshi (both Power Dynamos), Luka Banda, Luka Ng’uni (both Napsa Stars), Dominic Chanda (Kabwe Warriors), Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows), Kebson Kamanga (Zanaco
Midfielders: Benson Sakala (Power Dynamos), Albert Kangwanda, Kelvin Kapumbu (both Zanaco), Amity Shamende (Green Eagles), Leonard Mulenga (Green Buffaloes), Bruce Musakanya, Kelvin Mubanga Kampamba (both Zesco United), Collins Sikombe (Napsa Stars), Chaniza Zulu (Lumwana Radiants), Paul Katema (Red Arrows), Thomas Zulu (Nkwazi)
Forwards: Friday Samu (Green Buffaloes), Emmanuel Chabula (Nkwazi)
