The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has appointed Chisi Mbewe as Zambia Under-23 Men’s National Team Coach as part preparations for the Egypt 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
FAZ General Secretary Charles Chakatazya says Mbewe, who is coach for Super League side Red Arrows will be assisted by Numba Mumamba, George Chilufya and Kalililo Kakonje as first assistant, second assistant and goalkeeper coaches respectively.
The rest of the bench has 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winning vice-captain Chintu Kampamba as physical trainer, Mumba Mwila (Team Manager), Ndaba Sipuke (Team Doctor), Nimrod Musongwa (Physiotherapist), Luka Kaunda (Video analyst), Nchimunya Mwila (Team Security) and 2009 CHAN golden boot winner Given Singuluma (Equipment Manager).
Mbewe was head coach for the Under-20 squad that qualified for the Under-20 AFCON in Egypt in 2023.
Chakatazya says the bench has the long-term target of qualifying to Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
“The appointments have been made after a rigorous exercise that saw FAZ pick some of the best local coaching talents. Mbewe has been part of the Zambian youth system for some time having served as U15 and U20 coach over the years and knows his way around the current generation of players,” he says.
“He will be assisted by an equally competent ensemble of local coaches that we have tasked to firstly qualify to the U23 AFCON and subsequently the Olympics in 2028.”
Zambia have been handed a second-round tie against either Sierra Leone or Burkina Faso in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Mbewe’s charges will enter the competition at the second-round stage, with the first leg scheduled for 9 November and the return leg to be played eight days later. The last U23 AFCON qualification came in 2019 in Egypt under Beston Chambeshi which ended in a first round exit.
The full technical bench:
Head Coach: Chisi Mbewe
1st Assistant Coach: Numba Mumamba
2nd Assistant Coach: George Chilufya
Goalkeeper Coach: Kalililo Kakonje
Physical Coach: Chintu Kampamba
Video Analyst: Luka Kaunda
Team Manager: Mumba Mwila
Team Doctor: Ndaba Sipuke
Physiotherapist: Nimrod Musongwa
Equipment Manager: Given Singuluma
Security Manager: Nchimunya Mwila
