Zambia’s Chipolopolo Boys are set to return to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after missing the previous three editions. The morale in camp is high, with players confident that they can conquer Africa despite all odds.

Leicester City striker Patson Daka stated that they are going there to compete, not just participate. He warned that their qualification for the tournament was not accidental.

READ MORE: “We didn’t qualify by mistake”- Daka warns AFCON opponents

This came after the in-form striker equaled former Chipolopolo striker Kenneth Malitoli’s tally of 19 international goals in a pre-Afcon friendly match against Cameroon on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia.

Zambia’s target, according to Croatian-based NK Rijeka midfielder Emmanuel Banda, is to reach the tournament’s final.

“I feel we have a great team, we have a great squad, we have very good individual players, and I feel we are capable of doing anything in this Africa Cup of Nations,” Banda told FAZ media.

“My objective and what I want as a player is to get into the final,” he added. “And I believe that’s what everybody wants in the team. So we have the same goal and the same target and we will push to achieve that as a team and I believe we are going to do great.”

Zambia’s plot against Congo in AFCON opener

Zambia is in Group F alongside the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup semifinalists, Morocco, the DR Congo, and Tanzania.

Coached by 2015 AFCON finalist and former Chelsea FC manager Avram Grant, they will kick off their campaign against DR Congo on Wednesday next week in San Pedro.

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Banda said the team is ready for the tournament and that they want to start with a win against Congo.

“We are very ready. We already feel like the tournament has started, but the most important thing is our first game……. Obviously, we want to win the first game to start on a high note and then take each game as it comes.’