Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant has named a 25-member squad ahead of the back-to-back Group E 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Congo Brazzaville and Niger respectively.

Grant has retained the core of the squad that helped the team qualify for the 2023 Ivory Coast Africa Cup of Nations. However, Grant will be without the injured duo of Scotland-based Frankie Musonda and Kelvin Kapumbu while Tandi Mwape has yet to find a club since his contract with TP Mazembe ran out.

The team is a mix of local and foreign-based players that will enter camp in Ndola on November 13 when the FIFA window opens. Despite lacking game time at EFL Championship side Leicester City, striker Patson Saka has been handed a place in the team. Zambia host Congo Brazzaville at the Levy Mwanwasa Stadium on November 17 before travelling to Marrakech for a match against Niger which will be held four days later.

Full squad; Goalkeeper; Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Francis Mwansa (Green Buffaloes), Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows).

Defenders: Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows), Killian Kanguluma (Kabwe Warriors), Stoppilla Sunzu (Jinan Xingzhou-China), Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Luka Banda (Napsa Stars), Roderick Kabwe (Zakho SC-Iraq), and Zephaniah Phiri (Prison Leopards).

Midfielders; Benson Sakala (FK Mlada-Czech), Andrew Mupande (Green Buffaloes), Golden Mafwenta (MFK Vyskov-Czech), Kings Kangwa (Crvena Zvezda-Serbia), Emanuel Banda (Club Rijeka-Croatia), Rally Bwalya (Sekhukhune-RSA), Clatous Chama (Simba-Tanzania), Lubambo Musonda (Sikeborg-Denmark), Edward Chilufya (BK Hacken-Sweden), and Kelvin Kampamba (Zesco).

Strikers; Lameck Banda (Lecce-Italy), Brian Mwila (Zanaco), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha-Saudi Arabia), Evans Kangwa (Quindao Hainiu-China), and Patson Daka (Leicester-England).