Zambia U23 coach Chisi Mbewe says he is impressed with the progress made during the first week of camp as the Junior Chipolopolo prepare for the 2027 U23 AFCON qualifiers
Mbewe says the 45 players called up for assessment have shown great commitment, with fierce competition for places making the selection process both challenging and encouraging.
The Junior Chipolopolo edged Kafue Celtics 4-3 in a friendly at Nkoloma Stadium, with Philimon Chilimina scoring twice, while Eliya Mandanji and Antony Chipanuka were also on target. Mbewe said the technical bench is focused on selecting the strongest possible squad for the qualifiers.
“The boys are showing the hunger to be part of the team. They are pushing, and it is not going to be easy for us to come up with the team,” Mbewe said.
He has also welcomed the contribution of players from the U20 set-up, saying they have added another level of competition.
Zambia will face the winner between Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso in the second round, with the two legs scheduled for November 9 and 17.
