As per the CAF tournament schedule, Chipolopolo coach Avram Grant has unveiled his 55-man provisional squad for the Coted’vouire 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Grant has included Italian Serie A’s Atalanta FC midfielder Mannah Chiwisa in the provisional squad.
The 20-year-old former Lusaka Youth Academy defensive midfielder plays for Atalanta’s U-23 team. He has previously represented Zambia at the U17 and U23 levels.
Others called up include returnees Miguel Chaiwa, Thandi Mwape, Aime Mabika, Kenedy Musonda, and Toaster Nsabanta, while Spain-based attacker Peter Chikola, Cagliari FC’s Kingstone Mutandwa, and Zesco United’s Enock Sakala have also been handed debut call-ups.
Meanwhile, Patson Daka, Fashion Sakala, Frankie Musonda and Lameck Banda are among the senior players headlining the squad.
CAF has set this Thursday as the deadline for participating teams to submit their provisional squads, with a maximum of 55 players allowed, while final squads of 23 players must be submitted by January 3, 2024.
Zambia is in Group F, along with the Congo DR, Morocco, and Tanzania. The Chipolopolo will begin their AFCON campaign against Congo on January 17, followed by Morocco four days later and Tanzania on January 24.
FULL PROVISIONAL SQUAD
(GOALKEEPERS)
Toaster Nsabata (Zesco United), Francis Mwansa (Green Buffaloes), Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows)
(DEFENDERS)
Stoppilla Sunzu (Jinan Xingzhou-China), Frankie Musonda (Ayr United-Scotland), Aime Mabika (Toronto FC-Canada), Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Luka Banda (Napsa Stars), Mathews Chabala (Zesco United), Gift Mphande (Rishon-Lezion-Israel), Killian Kanguluma (Kabwe Warriors), Tandi Mwape (TP Mazembe), Benedict Chepeshi (Red Arrows), Zephaniah Phiri (Prison Leopards), Rodrick Kabwe (Zakho SC-Iraq), Frederick Mwaiche (Trident), Teddy Khumalo (Green Buffaloes), Miguel Chaiwa (BSC Young Boys-Switzerland),
(MIDFIELDERS)
Mannah Chiwisa (Atalanta-Italy), Jack Chirwa (Forest Rangers), Dominic Kanda (Zanaco), Benson Sakala (Mlada Boleslav-Czech Republic), Kelvin Kapumbu, Kelvin Kampamba, Abraham Siankombo (all Zesco United), Golden Mafwenta (MFK Vyskov-Czech Republic), Andrew Muphande, John Kosamu (both Green Buffaloes), Kings Kangwa (Crvena Zvezda-Serbia), Emmanuel Banda (HNK Rijeka-Croatia), Rally Bwalya (Sekhukhune-RSA), Clatous Chama (Simba SC-Tanzania), Frederick Mulambia, Joshua Mutale (both Power Dynamos), Patson Kwataine (Mufulira Wanderers), Gamphani Lungu (SuperSport United-RSA), Lubambo Musonda (Silkeborg IF-Denamrk), Edward Chilufya Hacken-Sweden), Charles Zulu (Zanaco), Peter Chikola (Cadiz-Spain)
(STRIKERS)
Lameck Banda (Lecce-Italy), Golden Mashata (Green Buffaloes), Albert Kangwanda (Al Hilal-Sudan), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha-Saudi Arabia), Patson Daka (Leicester City-England), Evans Kangwa (Quingdao Hainiu-China), Francisco Mwepu (Athletico Sanluqueno CF-Spain), Brian Mwila (Zanaco), Moyela Libamba (Forest Rangers), Andrew Phiri (FC Muza), Enock Sakala, Lazarous Kambole (both Zesco United), Kingstone Mutandwa (Cagliari-Italy), Kennedy Musonda (Young Africans-Tanzania).
