The Zambia national team’s preparations for the Ivory Coast 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) received a boost with the arrival of Lameck Banda, Frankie Musonda, and Gift Mphande to complete the 27-member squad summoned by coach Avram Grant.
Mphande, who plies his trade in Israel arrived in camp on Thursday morning while Banda (Lecce) and Musonda (AYR United) joined at 13:00 hours (local time) in Taif. Grant will now have a full complement of players summoned for duty when they have their first training session in Saudi Arabia. The Chipolopolo will play Cameroon on January 9 in an international friendly as part of preparations for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Zambia is in Group F alongside Morocco, Tanzania, and Congo DR. The Chipolopolo will open their AFCON campaign on January 17 against Congo DR before facing Tanzania four days later with the final group match against the Atlas Lions of Morocco on January 24.
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Zambia squad; Goalkeepers: Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos, Zambia), Francis Mwansa (Green Buffaloes, Zambia), Toaster Nsabata (Zesco United, Zambia).
Defenders: Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos, Zambia), Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows, Zambia), Rodrick Kabwe (Zakho, Iraq), Gift Mphande (Hapoel Rishon LeZion, Israel), Frankie Musonda (Ayr United, Scotland), Tandi Mwape (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Zephaniah Phiri (Prison Leopards, Zambia), Stoppila Sunzu (Jinan Xingzhou, China).
Midfielders: Emmanuel Banda (HNK Rijeka, Croatia), Rally Bwalya (Sekhukhune United, South Africa), Miguel Chaiwa (Young Boys, Switzerland), Clatous Chama (Simba, Tanzania), Edward Chilufya (Hacken, Sweden), Kings Kangwa (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Kelvin Kapumbu (Zesco United, Zambia), Golden Mafwenta (MFK Vyskov, Czech Republic), Kelvin Kampamba (Zesco United, Zambia), Fredrick Mulambia (Power Dynamos, Zambia), Lubambo Musonda (Silkeborg, Denmark), Benson Sakala (Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic).
Forwards: Lameck Banda (Lecce, Italy), Patson Daka (Leicester City, England), Kennedy Musonda (Young Africans (Yanga SC), Tanzania), and Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha, Saudi Arabia).