The Zambia National team has wrapped up its preparations in Johannesburg ahead of the Group H Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier match against Ivory Coast on June 17 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

National team coach Avram Grant has been running through paces with the players for a week in South Africa and now the team will head back to Zambia on Tuesday for the Final preparations in Ndola.

Italy-based winger Lameck Banda will be seeking to continue with his fine form as he played a key role in the last qualifying match against Lesotho scoring a brace in Ndola.

Zambia is second placed with nine points in Group H and only needs a point in the remaining two fixtures to qualify for the Africa Cup for the first time since 2015.

“We need to qualify”- Banda

Meanwhile, Chipolopolo winger Lameck Banda disclosed to FAZ media that the team is ready for the match and that they are working hard to ensure they secure qualification on Saturday.

“Preparations are going on well every player is putting in extra effort and every player is ready to play against Ivory Coast. We are pushing together as a team.The game we are playing is very important, and we need to qualify,” he said.

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“So it’s good that we reported for camp early so that we spend more time working together as a team. We will wait for the other players to come so that we can work together as a team. Ivory Coast will not be an easy game. We just have to work hard because they are also coming to win, even though they have already qualified. The issue is on us to qualify,” added the Lecce winger.

Banda has promised to replicate his club form against Ivory Coast.

“Fans should come out in numbers and support us; we are one country and we will achieve together. I have learned a lot in Italy, and whatever I have learned, I need to bring it to the national team. Not just performing well at the club, I want to do my best.”