Football coach and pundit Franklyn Malambo says Zambia’s locally based players can still force their way into the final squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers despite the domestic league currently being in the off-season.

Malambo believes the players have already built a sufficient physical and technical foundation through pre-season training and can maintain their readiness through competitive friendly matches.

“I don’t think there is much really, they have all had a pre-season training of at least six weeks, and in normal circumstances, that means they have gained the right physical and technical fitness base to compete,” Malambo told Bola News.

He said the major requirement for the players now is to gain more match practice, particularly with the start of the domestic league having been pushed back to October.

“Beyond that, it’s just about more practice of matches than anything else,” he said. “That’s purely dependent on what their clubs’ plans are around friendlies, especially that the league restart has been pushed back to October and not September as earlier anticipated.”

Lwandamina knows who he wants- Malambo

Malambo, however, believes the final selection will largely depend on how players perform during preparations, noting that Chipolopolo head coach George Lwandamina is likely to have a clear idea of the players he wants.

“Overall, the coach already knows who he intends to have in his squad, both local and foreign, and barring any late surges or exceptional output in training and/or injury, he will stick to his guns,” he said.

Lwandamina last Friday stated that local players have an opportunity to impress and secure places in the final squad.

He added that the local players will continue training while foreign-based professionals can only join the squad two weeks before the qualifiers.

Zambia will be away to Algeria on 25 September before hosting Togo four days later in Ndola at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.