2012 Africa Cup of Nations winning captain, Christopher Katongo has been appointed as the new Zambia national team physical trainer for the under-23 team ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games qualifiers.
The Football Association of Zambia has announced in a statement that Katongo will be deployed as a physical trainer while Red Arrows FC technical director, Oswald Mutapa has been the head coach for the U-23 national team and will be assisted by Power Dynamos trainer Mwenya Chipepo, Boyd Mulwanda, Tenant Chembo as well Kalililo Kakonje who will serve as goalkeeper trainer.
Zambia will look to qualify to the Olympics for the first time in 34 years after failing to qualify for the previous edition during the last U23 AFCON with the team comprising the likes of Patson Daka, Mwepu and Sakala who are now eligible to be part of the squad this year.
The last Olympic qualification for the Zambia men’s national team was in 1988 when the team reached the quarterfinals.
Zambia will face Sierra Leone in the second round of the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations with the first leg scheduled for the weekend of October 21-23 in Freetown while the return leg will be on October 29 in Lusaka.
The winner over two legs will qualify for the final round that will be played in March 2023 where Egypt or the winner between Botswana and Eswatini await.
Egypt like Zambia is on bye from the first round of qualifiers with the young pharaohs awaiting the winner between Botswana and Eswatini.
The Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations will be used as a qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
