After making his UEFA Champions League debut on Wednesday, Zambia and BSC Young Boys midfielder Miguel Chaiwa has set his sights on competing in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
Chaiwa played his maiden Champions League match against Red Star Belgrade to become the youngest Zambian to debut in the competition since its rebrand in 1992 at 19 years, 5 months, and 27 days old.
He came on as a second-half substitute in the 74th minute of his team’s 2-2 draw with the Serbian giants.
Chaiwa was an unused substitute in the first game against RB Leipzig. He was delighted to finally make his debut.
“For me, it’s a dream come true… I still thought like I was dreaming,” he was quoted as saying by the Zambia Daily Mail. “I have been waiting for this moment, that one day I will be playing in the Champions League. It was an exciting display.”
Chaiwa is optimistic about his Chipolopolo return
The former Atletico Lusaka player hopes to return to the Chipolopolo squad and make Avram Grant’s final selection for the AFCON finals as well as next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Group E qualifier matches against Congo, Brazzaville, and Niger.
“Coming to the AfCON, it is really a dream. I know it won’t be easy to win a slot in the squad, but I just need to work hard. That is my target,” Chaiwa told the Zambia Daily Mail.
Meanwhile, the Luashya-born budding defensive midfielder has been left out of Grant’s latest squad for this month’s friendly matches against Egypt and Uganda on the 12th and 17th respectively in Dubai.
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Chaiwa last played for Zambia in a 1-0 friendly loss to Mali on September 26, 2022, in Bamako.
