French coach Herve renard named his final sqaud after Zambia drew 0 – 0 with fellow finalists Morocco in a friendly in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Veteran defender Chintu Kampamb, who has been without a club since June, was left out of the final 23-man squad.
“Doing the preparations, we can see the players are not 100 percent yet,” Renard said.
“It’s my fourth Africa Cup. We’ll do our best. We’re not Ivory Coast, we’re not Ghana.
“Why do you think we come to the Africa Cup? To drop out in the first round?
“There are 13 days till our first game. We are better than three days ago and we will be better in three days.”
Morocco coach Rachid Taoussi was happy for the practice against the continental champions.
“For Morocco, playing against the African champions was psychologically very important,” he said.
“It gives players confidence.”
Zambia squad:
Goalkeeper: Daniel Munyau (Red Arrows), Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, South Africa), Joshua Titima (Power Dynamos)
Defenders: Hichani Himoonde, Francis Kasonde (both TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Emmanuel Mbola (FC Porto, Portugal), Joseph Musonda (Lamontville Golden Arrows, South Africa), Davies Nkausu (SuperSport United, South Africa), Stopilla Sunzu (TP Mazembe, DR Congo)
Midfielders: Isaac Chansa (Henan Construction, China), Noah Chivuta (Free State Stars, South Africa), Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Christopher Katongo (Henan Construction, China), Felix Katongo (Petro Atletico, Angola), Chisamba Lungu (Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast), Mukuka Mulenga (Power Dynamos), William Njobvu (Hapoel Beer Sheva, Israel), Nathan Sinkala (TP Mazembe, DR Congo)
Forwards: James Chamanga (Dalian Shide, China), Emmanuel Mayuka (Southampton, England) Collins Mbesuma (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Jacob Mulenga (FC Utrecht, Holland), Jonas Sakuwaha (Al Merreikh, Sudan)