The Zambia Under-23 National Team coach, Oswald Mutapa, has urged local-based players to step up their game if they hope to be called up to the national squad that is looking to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations and the 2024 Paris Olympics games.

Speaking on Monday morning ahead of the team’s international friendly match against Kuwait, Mutapa said there is so much competition in his team that players will have to impress if they are to make it into his final squad.

“It’s important that we should have such friendlies, especially for the local players, having in mind that they have to compete with other senior players and professionals that are playing outside,” he said.

“We also need to prepare them. It’s not just playing but also competing in that these are the same players that will be available for selection for the senior national team.”

In preparation for their next back-to-back qualifiers against Egypt for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, the Zambia U-23 team will play a friendly match against Kuwait on December 25.

The U-23 Africa Cup will also serve as a qualifying tournament for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.