Zambia national team coach Aljosa Asanovic has today unveiled his 27-man squad for the September international window which will see the Chipolopolo boys play friendly matches against Mali and Libya.
The squad includes English Premier League stars, Enock Mwepu of Brighton and Hove Albion FC and Leicester City striker Patson Daka; in form winger Lameck Banda who recently made a historical move to the Italian Serie A side Lecce FC and Scotland-based defender Frankie Musonda.
Rangers FC striker Fashion Sakala, Midfielders Klings Kangwa from Red Star Belgrade, Edward Chilufya from Mitdtjylland and Djurgårdens’ Emmanuel Banda, have all made the cut in Asanovic’s provisional squad.
Meanwhile, United States-based defender Aime Mabika has been left out again as he is still not eligible to represent Zambia since he has no Zambian passport despite featuring for the Chipolopolo in two non-competitive friendly matches against Benin and Congo Brazaville in March this year.
The 24-year-old was born in Zambia to Congolese parents before moving to the United States where he plays for Inter Miami football club as a centre-back.
Mabika and British-born defender Frankie Musonda both pledged allegiance to represent the Zambian colours in March this year which saw them make their debut for Zambia in two friendly matches.
Since then, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal security’s board only awarded Zambian citizenship to Musonda who was born to a Zambian father and English mother.
Musonda went on to feature for the Chipolopolo boys in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ivory coast and Comoros in June at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
Mabika up to date has not been given a Zambian passport and the relevant authorities have not given an explanation to the media amid questions from fans who want the Inter Miami defender to feature for his country of birth.
The Football Association of Zambia-FAZ could now make a fresh application for the naturalization of the towering defender.
The Chipolopolo boys will enter in camp this weekend before flying to Benghazi where the team will play Libya and Mali in a three-nation tournament on the 21st and 25th September 2022 respectively.
FULL PROVISIONAL SQUAD:
(GOALKEEPERS)
Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows), Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Toaster Nsabata (Sekhukhune-RSA)
(DEFENDERS)
Benedict Chepeshi, Allan Kapila (both Red Arrows), Shemmy Mayembe (Zesco United), Miguel Chaiwa (BSC Young Boys-Switzerland), Frankie Musonda (AYR United-Scotland), Dominic Chanda (Kabwe Warriors), Luka Chamanga (Power Dynamos)
(MIDFIELDERS)
Edward Chilufya (Midtjylland-Denmark), Prince Mumba (NK Istra-Croatia), Kelvin Kampamba (Zesco United), Lameck Banda (Lecce-Italy), Emmanuel Banda (Djurgårdens – Sweden), Roderick Kabwe (Sekhukhune-RSA), Kings Kangwa (FK Crvena Zvezda-Serbia), Enock Mwepu (Brighton-England), Lubambo Musonda (Horsens FC-Denmark), Clatous Chota Chama (Simba SC-Tanzania), Tandi Mwape (TP Mazembe-DRC), Joshua Mutale (Power Dynamos), Rally Bwalya (Amazulu-RSA)
(STRIKERS)
Patson Daka (Leicester City-England), Evans Kangwa (Arsenal Tula-Russia), Fashion Sakala (Glasgow Rangers-Scotland), Ricky Banda (Red Arrows)
