Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has beefed up its senior national football team coaching panel with Germany-based former Chipolopolo star defender Moses Sichone.

FAZ general secretary Adrian Kashala confirmed via a statement that the former Cologne FC player has joined the coach Aljosa Asanovic’s panel ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers next month.

“The idea is to also have a Zambian trainer to learn from the expatriate coaches so that we can also empower local trainers with experience,” Kashala told FAZ media.

The coaching panel also comprises first assistant Karol Prazenica, physical trainer Hrvoje Matijevic, Gabriel Tonci (goalkeeper trainer), Stephen Mwansa (goalkeeper trainer-local) and Stephan Carevic (video analyst).

Zambia are camping in Ghana before proceeding to Ivory Coast for the group’s first qualifying match on June 3 then host Comoros four days later for the Group H duels in Lusaka.

Sichone, then an overlapping defender, represented Zambia at three AFCON editions and also served as technical director between 2017 and 2018.

Now, he wants to help Zambia to return to AFCON after having missed the last edition held in Cameroon.

Zambia won their only AFCON title in 2012 and since that year, they have been on a downward spiral.

However, Asanovic has promised to revive the Chipolopolo’s fortunes.