Zambia national team defender Benedict Chepeshi is anticipating a tough match against Zimbabwe when the two teams meet at the friendly Four-Nation Tournament slated for Lilongwe, Malawi. 

Chipolopolo will take on the Warriors on Saturday at the Bingu National Stadium at 14:00 in the opening semifinal clash of the tournament. 

Hosts Malawi will take on Kenya in the other semifinal of the day at 17:00 hrs. 

All the participating countries have summoned their A-grade teams for the tournament, which is being used as preparation for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, which will resume in June. 

Chepeshi said the friendly matches that Zambia will play at the tournament will help the team assess their readiness for the qualifiers as it allows newly summoned players to showcase what they can offer to the national team.

“We are looking forward to the friendlies in Malawi. I think they are nice games we are having ahead of us,” he told FAZ media. “We have to prepare and see where we are as a team.

“We have to be together so that we can develop more and more. It is important to gauge ourselves, prepare well, and bring in new players.” 

The Red Arrows FC defender thinks Zimbabwe will give Zambia a difficult match.

“A very tough game. Zimbabwe has a good team; most of the players are European-based at the moment. I think it is a very good preparation. We will take each game as it comes,” he concluded. 

A 15-member Chipolopolo contingent has since departed for Lilongwe ahead of Saturday’s match.

Besides Clatous Chama and Stoppilla Sunzu, other foreign-based players will fly directly into Lilongwe.

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