Zambian international midfielder Joshua Mutale says he hopes to help the national team return to its glory days and reclaim the standard set by the 2012 team that won the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Tanzania-based midfielder is among the 25 players called up by head coach Avram Grant for the upcoming FIFA international friendlies against Sudan and Tunisia on 6 and 10 June, respectively.

The former Power Dynamos player earned his national team call-up following an impressive run of form with Simba SC.

Over the weekend, Mutale—affectionately known as “Budo”—delivered a Man of the Match performance, scoring in the CAF Confederation Cup final. Despite his efforts, Simba SC lost 3-1 on aggregate to RS Berkane.

Speaking in a telephone interview on ZNBC Radio 4’s sports programme, Mutale expressed pride in receiving the national team call-up during a high point in his career.

“It’s a great opportunity knowing that I am coming to the national team when I am at my best. I just want to help the national team and take Zambia where they belong,” he said.

“In the past years,the likes of Rainford Kalaba and Christopher Katongo raised the standard and these past years we have not met the standards that they set.”

Zambia is using the two friendly matches in June as part of preparations for the September round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Group E and the 2025 AFCON in December.

“We want to return there where Zambia is dominating football and I think this is a good preparation for us knowing that in September they will be World Cup Qualifiers and we need to do well so that we qualify for the World Cup,” Mutale concluded.

READ MORE: Mutale Scores in CAF Confederation Cup Final, but Simba Falls to RS Berkane