Chipolopolo legend Elijah Litana believes the Chipolopolo Boys need a leader and aggressive defenders.
Litana, who was part of Zambia’s team that lost 2-1 to Nigeria in the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) final, has advised Avram Grant’s technical bench to consider making changes to the captain’s roles.
Iraq-based left-back Rodrick Kabwe captained Zambia in the first two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Congo Brazzaville and Niger.
In the absence of captain Lubambo Musonda, who, due to injury, was ruled out of the first match against Congo, in which Zambia won 4-2, the armband was given to Kabwe, the team’s vice-captain.
Lubambo only played the second match against Niger, coming on as a second-half substitute to play the last 13 minutes.
The 2-1 loss to Niger saw 2012 AFCON winner Stophila Sunzu take over the captain’s armband after Kabwe made way for Zephaniah Phiri in the second half.
‘Zambia needs aggressive defenders’- Litana
However, speaking to BolaNews, Litana observed that the Chipolopolo Boys are currently lacking a leader on the field.
“We need someone who talks to be the captain,” Litana said. “The captain needs to be vocal, talking to the players and reminding them of what they need to do. When you are a captain, you don’t need to be mute. It doesn’t work like that.”
The former Saudi Pro League’s Al-Hilal defender also said the team conceded two goals in both matches due to poor communication between the defenders and the goalkeeper.
He has urged the technical bench to work on the defence by looking for aggressive defenders.
“We have a very good team and can go far if the bench works on the defence before the start of the Africa Cup. What is lacking is communication between the goalkeepers and the defence.
“The team also needs some aggressive defenders like Kabaso Chongo at the back because the current partnership of Sunzu and Chanda is calm. We need some aggression to stop the opponent’s attacks.”
Litana, who scored Zambia’s only goal in the 1994 AFCON final, has defended the goalkeepers for the goals conceded in the last two matches.
“No, if you want to have a [good] goalkeeper, you must have a complete team—strikers, midfielders, and defenders.
“If the defenders expose the goalkeeper, they might allow in as much as they have some chances to save.
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“We can’t say the goalkeepers are not good, no. The first goal [Niger] scored was an offside. If we had VAR, that was a clear offside. The second one, maybe yes, the keeper could have done better, but he was exposed by the defence,” concluded Litana.
