The Chipolopolo Boys have intensified preparations for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign, with several foreign-based players joining the squad in camp.

Zambia will begin their qualifying campaign away to Algeria on September 25 before hosting Togo at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on September 29.

The Chipolopolo have struggled for goals in recent matches, managing just two goals in their last six games. However, interim head coach George Lwandamina says he will continue working to get the best out of the players available to him.

“Training will never end, we will continue training and preparing them until we get the best out of them,” Lwandamina said.

Among the foreign-based players who have joined the locally based squad are Saudi Pro League side Al Fayha striker Fashion Sakala, Libya-based Lameck Banda and young defender David Hamasenya.

Asked whether he was confident that the team could replicate its performance from the previous campaign, Lwandamina said the squad still has a core of players who were part of the team previously.

“We have the core of the team which were there and these are the ones which are there again, so we just hope for the best.”

Meanwhile, team captain Fashion Sakala believes Zambia’s recent struggles in front of goal are only temporary and that the goals will come.

“I can’t say there is a problem; I think it’s one of those phases that you go through in the game, but I believe against Algeria, we will definitely find the goals,” he said.