Zambia national team coach Avram Grant has announced his squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Morocco, set to be played on September 8 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
The squad sees the return of Saudi Arabia-based striker Fashion Sakala, who was ostracized from the national team in January 2024.
Sakala had accused Grant of coercing players to sign with his agent, Nir Karin, in order to earn national team call-ups. However, Grant says the Saudi Arabia-based striker was wrong and has since apologized.
“Fashion did something that was wrong, that he shouldn’t have done, but he called me a few weeks ago and apologized, and I felt his apology was honest,” Grant said during a press briefing at Football House on Thursday. “He [Fashion] said that he did something he shouldn’t have done, spoke against people that he didn’t need to speak about, including players, etc. I will not tell you what we spoke about, but he called, and as I said before, I am not the guy that has personal issues with anybody. The only issue I have is the team, and it was very honest, so we took the first step, and I believe him, and I told him that I accepted his apology.”
The Chipolopolo coach continued: “He is a young man who made a big mistake, and he was out of the squad because of that. He apologized, and I accepted.”
Grant has also recalled goalkeeper Mwenya Chibwe, who recently rejoined Zesco United, as well as Lawrence Mulenga, who was absent from the last two squads.
Leicester City striker Patson Daka is also back in the national team for the first time since November last year. He missed seven games due to an ankle injury and will look to break Christopher Katongo and Collins Mbesuma’s records if he scores on his return.
Others returning to the squad include US Lecce winger Lameck Banda and Austria-based striker Kingstone Mutandwa.
Grant has also called up CD Leganes duo David Hamansenya and Gift Siame, as well as Cagliari youngster Joseph Liteta, while Stoppila Sunzu and Thandi Mwape have been left out due to injury.
FIFA awarded Zambia three points in the ongoing qualifiers following the unplayed match against Congo Brazzaville, originally scheduled for March 25, 2025.
Zambia now sits third in Group E with six points, behind Tanzania, who have nine points, and leaders Morocco, with 15 points.
The Chipolopolo Boys now need to win their remaining three games against Morocco, Niger, and Tanzania to finish second and stand a chance of qualifying through the playoffs, and Grant says it’s possible.
“I think we have a chance. I think if we win all three games, we have a chance for second place,” Grant said. “But anyway, if we want to build a good mentality, we need to always want to win. It doesn’t matter even if there is a small chance or a big chance, we need to win. And we have, I think it’s a good test.”
FULL 31-MEMBER SQUAD
(GOALKEEPERS)
- Toaster Nsabata (Sekhukhune)
- Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos)
- Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows)
- Mwenya Chibwe (Zesco United)
(DEFENDERS)
- Frankie Musonda (AYR United – Scotland)
- Kabaso Chongo (Zesco United)
- Benedict Chepeshi ( Zesco United)
- Gift Mphande ( Zesco United)
- Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos)
- Obino Chisala (El Merreikh – Sudan)
- David Hamansenya (Leganes – Spain)
- Mathews Banda (Nkana)
(MIDFIELDERS)
- Lubambo Musonda (Magdeburg – Germany)
- Benson Sakala (Bohemians 1905 – Czech Republic)
- Miguel Chaiwa (Hibernian – Scotland)
- Joseph Liteta (Cagliari – Italy)
- Kings Kangwa (Hapoel Be’er Sheva – Israel)
- Joseph Sabobo Banda (Hapoel Be’er Sheva – Israel)
- Golden Mafwenta (MFK Vyskov – Czech Republic)
- Kelvin Kampamba (Zesco United)
- Abraham Siankombo (Zesco United)
- Emmanuel Banda (Maccabi Bnei – Israel)
- Gift Siame (CD Leganes-Spain)
- Saddam Phiri (Red Arrows)
- Lameck Banda (Lecce – Italy)
- Songa Chipyoka (Hapoel Petah Tikva – Israel)
(FORWARDS)
- Kingstone Mutandwa (SV Ried – Austria)
- Edward Chilufya (Midtjylland – Denmark)
- Patson Daka (Leicester – England)
- Kennedy Musonda (Hapoel Ramat Gan – Israel)
- Fashion Sakala (Al-Fayha FC – Saudi Arabia)
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